I want to take a look at this boat since it sounds almost too good to be true and all in 22 feet! It was this or the Hunter 260. Any comparisons, experience, opinions are appreciated!!
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Mike
It's a neat little boat
I've been on the Rhodes 22 at boat shows and have been very impressed. It is undoubtedly one of the best thought-out trailerable sailboats I have ever seen. I spoke to an owner at one of the shows who raved about the boat. I wasn't able to buy a boat at the time (first child on the way), but I did sign up for their service where General Boats sent me updates on used/refurbished 22's for sale as well as locking in the boat show discount. I never wound up buying one, although some friends did several years later. They bought a new model from the factory. No complaints, but they later realized the boat wasn't right for them. They were retiring and wanted a boat with roller reefing on the jib and main; since they were financially well-off, price was not an object. They also did not want to buy a much bigger boat than they were used to. The Rhodes fit the bill on all counts. After sailing it for a few seasons, they realized their boat had many amenities found only on larger boats, only scaled down to fit into a 22 foot boat; this really didn't work for them. It was sort of the equivalent of buying a Toyota Corolla and paying top dollar for leather seats, custom engine, Bose stereo etc. Even though you get some amenities, ultimately, its still a Corolla. If you want a luxury car, you buy the Lexus. Likewise, if you want a comfortable cruiser, buy a bigger boat. This is not to say that the Rhodes is a bad boat. Far from it; it simply is a niche boat. Most people who want a trailerable boat will want to spend less than a Rhodes costs and don't need or want to ensure that the boat really can sleep six, has a full galley, roller reefing main, etc. In other words, they will compromise. However, there are a greoup of people who want a small, trailerable boat that really can cruise and are willing to pay the premium it costs. For that smaller group, I have never seen anything that compares to the Rhodes in terms of design, features, quality and factory support.
I've been on the Rhodes 22 at boat shows and have been very impressed. It is undoubtedly one of the best thought-out trailerable sailboats I have ever seen. I spoke to an owner at one of the shows who raved about the boat. I wasn't able to buy a boat at the time (first child on the way), but I did sign up for their service where General Boats sent me updates on used/refurbished 22's for sale as well as locking in the boat show discount. I never wound up buying one, although some friends did several years later. They bought a new model from the factory. No complaints, but they later realized the boat wasn't right for them. They were retiring and wanted a boat with roller reefing on the jib and main; since they were financially well-off, price was not an object. They also did not want to buy a much bigger boat than they were used to. The Rhodes fit the bill on all counts. After sailing it for a few seasons, they realized their boat had many amenities found only on larger boats, only scaled down to fit into a 22 foot boat; this really didn't work for them. It was sort of the equivalent of buying a Toyota Corolla and paying top dollar for leather seats, custom engine, Bose stereo etc. Even though you get some amenities, ultimately, its still a Corolla. If you want a luxury car, you buy the Lexus. Likewise, if you want a comfortable cruiser, buy a bigger boat. This is not to say that the Rhodes is a bad boat. Far from it; it simply is a niche boat. Most people who want a trailerable boat will want to spend less than a Rhodes costs and don't need or want to ensure that the boat really can sleep six, has a full galley, roller reefing main, etc. In other words, they will compromise. However, there are a greoup of people who want a small, trailerable boat that really can cruise and are willing to pay the premium it costs. For that smaller group, I have never seen anything that compares to the Rhodes in terms of design, features, quality and factory support.
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Bill O'Donovan
Up from 19
Presumably the 22 is a quantum leap from the Rhodes O'Day 19, a nifty open-cockpit that has all the comfort of a bad hammock. Ours sailed fast and had a British Seagull OB that had two speeds, fast and off. To go in reverse, one had to literally turn the motor around like Howdy Doody's head. The boat and its inherent dangers had the desired effect in that my wife was so scared of it that she readily agreed to upgrade to a more sedate Catalina 25.
Presumably the 22 is a quantum leap from the Rhodes O'Day 19, a nifty open-cockpit that has all the comfort of a bad hammock. Ours sailed fast and had a British Seagull OB that had two speeds, fast and off. To go in reverse, one had to literally turn the motor around like Howdy Doody's head. The boat and its inherent dangers had the desired effect in that my wife was so scared of it that she readily agreed to upgrade to a more sedate Catalina 25.
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tomD
What's it for?
As a 22 ft boat, the Rhodes is as Mike described: ingenious use of little space, micro cruiser with a very good seaworthiness rating compared to other 22's. However if you are looking for a trailerable boat that you can spend some time on, the Hunter 260 give you space. Not near as pretty, but bigger. My wife's complaint about living on our 22 is that everything is in a locker or glory hole and you are forever digging because all the spaces have to be multi-use. The H260 can be trailered behind most larger vehicles, the Rhodes 22 is quite heavy for a 22 ft boat which is partly why it is seakindly. As far as which one sails best, can't comment, only been on them tied to a dock.
As a 22 ft boat, the Rhodes is as Mike described: ingenious use of little space, micro cruiser with a very good seaworthiness rating compared to other 22's. However if you are looking for a trailerable boat that you can spend some time on, the Hunter 260 give you space. Not near as pretty, but bigger. My wife's complaint about living on our 22 is that everything is in a locker or glory hole and you are forever digging because all the spaces have to be multi-use. The H260 can be trailered behind most larger vehicles, the Rhodes 22 is quite heavy for a 22 ft boat which is partly why it is seakindly. As far as which one sails best, can't comment, only been on them tied to a dock.
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Ricky P
I owned one
And the happiest day was when the builder bought it back. If you want to sail on anything other than a lake or a very very very protected body of water, this boat is not for that. It is exceptionally tender to wave action. It does not sail well in light air, because of its displacement to length ratio. It has the most severe lee helm I've ever encountered on a boat---a characteristic that I consider to be dangerous, especially with an inexperienced crew or guest at the helm. But, if you want to sit at a dock, it's very cute and has lots of amenities for a 22 footer.
And the happiest day was when the builder bought it back. If you want to sail on anything other than a lake or a very very very protected body of water, this boat is not for that. It is exceptionally tender to wave action. It does not sail well in light air, because of its displacement to length ratio. It has the most severe lee helm I've ever encountered on a boat---a characteristic that I consider to be dangerous, especially with an inexperienced crew or guest at the helm. But, if you want to sit at a dock, it's very cute and has lots of amenities for a 22 footer.
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Bill P.
BillP
I'm trying to reconcile the two opinions regarding her sailing ability. One indicates she is only good for lakes etc. The other indicates that she (Rhodes) is very seaworthy - I can see where various atributes might fall into both but these appear to be at odds??
I'm trying to reconcile the two opinions regarding her sailing ability. One indicates she is only good for lakes etc. The other indicates that she (Rhodes) is very seaworthy - I can see where various atributes might fall into both but these appear to be at odds??
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