[Rhodes22-list] Soliciting Practical Advice

[mltroy]

Richard,
What kind of winds are you talking about when you talk about
being overpowered? We had several wonderful sails this year
in 18 - 20 knot winds with the 175 genoa reefed down and a
small reef in the IMF main.

While I have to agree with you on reefing the big genoa, one
thing you may not have considered is the infinate
reefability of the IMF main. We have found that by furling
the genoa significantly (routing the sheets to the cabintop
cleats) and reducing the main, we are able to keep the boat
from being overpowered. Unless we get the balance of the
size of the furled genoa vs. the size of the reefed main
just right, we can't point well but the boat is on her feet
and moving.

We do like the 175 for those 4 and 5 knot summer days on the
Chesapeake but someday may go to a furler (we have the old
style GBI furler) that will allow us to change sails for the
more vigorous winds in the spring and fall.

Mary Lou

> When it comes to the IMF rig please consider the
> following....
> 1:  Since there is little weight in the swing keel the
> Rhodes (like all such designs  is relatively tender)
> 2:  The IMF set up features a very large Genoa.  The main
> basically provides a slot effect.  Most of the power comes
> from the gennie. It works OK in light air.
> 3:  Even with foam shaping in the headsail luff it's not
> possible to reef the sail more then 30% and maintain much
> in the way of a reasonable shape. Without a heavy crew to
> hike the boat you will be easily overpowered when it
> blows.  There is also the heavy mast to consider. 4:  I
> sail single-handed on blue water in a windy area (Rockaway
> Inlet, N.Y. Harbor.)  I have the regular mast and a 145%
> furler.  When it starts to blow even when I lower the
> gooseneck and reef down the gennie to about 100% it's
> still to much sail area. 5:  I am ordering a 100% furler
> and a new main which I will set up with Harken Slab
> reefing.  That should be OK.
> The boat is uncommonly responsive and for a sailboat
> comfortable.  I do not view the tenderness as a liability
> since it can be dealt with by reduction of sail area.  But
> with IMF system as delivered by G.B. I don't think it's
> possible to reef sufficiently when the going get's heavy.
> Richard Smith
>
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