Brian:

My Rhodes is a 1978 Continental. Here are the things I have seen that definitely reflect on poor craftsmanship for whichever company Stan contracted to build those boats.

1. Stern and bow rails were 7/8 aluminum. The stern rail was poorly attached to the transom, so much so that I could wiggle it easily. I replaced it over the fall with a SS 1" rail system that I bought, cut up and refitted. It is super tight and seems to work well. The bow rail is not quite as critical but if the opportunity arises, I will replace it as well. 2, The inside of the pop-top is not finished. On the newer R22s I see that the inside is smooth and beautiful. Mine has a popcorn surface like you see in ceilings of cheap motel rooms on Route 1. I have painted it white but I still have pop-top envy when I see the newer boats.
3. The undersides of the cockpit benches seem like they were not well thought-out. I removed all of the sliding panels that were (I guess) supposed to protect and hide any kit that was stored there.
4. The wiring was a total afterthought, I think. I had to rewire the boat from top to bottom.
5. The lazarette lid has no hinging system. Not a big deal but annoying sometimes.
6. The jib roller furling system was problematic. It was a rudimentary design that jammed such that I could not use it so I replaced it with a Profurl system

Having said all that, everything else has been great (so far). I have seen no places where the fiberglass is not in good shape, no soft spots on the deck and the interior is dry as can be. The quality of the hull seems wonderful - smooth and defect-free, the standing rigging made of good materials, the cabin still lovely and comfortable.

Let me know if you have questions.

Tom Hyatt
S/V Eliza Jane 1978
Baltimore. MD

On Fri, Mar 8, 2024 at 6:32 PM Brian Ferguson <brian.a.ferguson76 at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Peter,
>
> I’m going to try to bump up the post-count for 2024 by asking if there’s
> any other early Rhodes Continental owners out there. I have a 1976 that
> Stan already told me he did not build. Having taken it down to a bare hull
> interior, (except for the forward and under-cockpit foam areas) I am
> thoroughly convinced of that fact.  The early days definitely had some
> quality control issues.
>
> So any other owners out there with early boats and interesting “quality”
> discoveries? I have some questions for you.
>
> Brian
>