[Rhodes22-list] Fwd: How to: A Trouble-free Furling Main | Sail Magazine

[Chris Geankoplis]

Yes Jesse,
  On the Catalina, the sail is cut differently than on the Rhodes a bit,
and no vertical battens so no real roach.  That being said, one of the main
reasons that we went with this particular boat was the IMF.  For our use
and lifestyle, the slight loss of a bit of speed, matters not.  Furling
both in and out is done with a manual winch on a port tack.  Sometimes it
is reluctant to unfurl as it picks up a wrinkle or two and requires me to
go forward and shake it out.  The sail is old and has been recut a bit
(lost a foot of the leach due to sun damage).  So we have 43 sq. ft. less
sail area than a regular main.  Going to get a new sail soon which
I understand will not have this problem.  Just like on the Rhodes, we don't
fall into the trap of waiting too long to reef in hopes the squall will go
away.  We reef before it is too late and that is a real plus safety wise.
Not sure what we are going to do this winter as the Bahamas has closed
their country to all American vessels (and planes)........a wise precaution
considering the situation here in the U.S.

Chris Geankoplis
S?V ENOSIS


On Mon, Jul 20, 2020 at 7:20 AM Jesse Shumaker <
jesse.laten.shumaker at gmail.com> wrote:

> Chris, one thing that I've noticed about IMF on larger boats is that the
> foot does not appear to be horizontal.  Instead it appears to be cut a bit
> like jib in that the clue is higher than the tack.  I assume that might be
> so that the foot doesn't bunch up on top of itself as it furls so it
> doesn't take up too much room in the mast.  As a result of this it appears
> that the boom is always at an angle for the IMF on larger boats.  On your
> Catalina, do you furl it by hand, does it require a winch or is there an
> electric winch?  Overall, do you like the IMF on the larger boat as well?
>
> One other note, does the IMF on the R22 require any maintenance such as
> lubrication?
>
> On Sun, Jul 19, 2020 at 9:24 PM Chris Geankoplis <
> chrisgeankoplis at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Yup,  Have used both and let me tell you the R22 furles a lot easier! I
> > think about it every time I furl the big one on the Catalina.  I do miss
> my
> > Rhodes.  Just paid the insurance on it even though I am not sailing it
> > (required) but it is so cheap I don't mind.  One of the reasons I spent
> so
> > much money (more than I paid for the boat) to ship it over to Greece was
> > because of the IMF.  Thanks again to Stan for coming up with this
> > marvelous feature!
> >
> > Chris Geankoplis
> > SV ENOSIS
> >
> > On Sun, Jul 19, 2020 at 4:30 PM Jesse Shumaker <
> > jesse.laten.shumaker at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > Hi Tom,
> > >
> > > The R22 IMF furls in the opposite direction as the illustration
> depicting
> > > the Selden furling shown in the article.  There is a vertical batten
> that
> > > is inserted into the UV resistant portion of the sail, which is the
> thick
> > > colored section that sticks out when the sail is fully furled.
> Forgoing
> > > battens on the rest of the main seems to the price you pay in terms of
> > > performance in exchange for the big benefits in terms of ease of using
> > > IMF.  Horizontal battens are reserved for mains that hoist in the
> > > traditional manner, or perhaps they could also be used on boom roller
> > > furling, which seems to be less common than IMF.   I've not heard of
> > anyone
> > > else adding additional vertical battens and I'm not sure the mast would
> > be
> > > large enough to accommodate the extra size of a furled sail including
> > > vertical battens.
> > >
> > > I haven't yet sailed on a larger boat with IMF, but people who have
> used
> > > those and then come on my R22 seem to be surprised about the ability to
> > > raise and lower the entire system (boom and mainsail) with the pin
> going
> > > through the gooseneck to the mast.  I suppose that's not an option on a
> > > larger boat because of the extra weight.  It is nice to have a high
> boom
> > > normally for plenty of room in the cockpit and to catch the most wind
> up
> > > high, but then be able to lower it quickly in stronger conditions.
> > > Lowering the center of effort reduces heeling.
> > >
> > > Maybe Chris G. could provide some perspectives on IMF for the R22 vs. a
> > > larger boat since he also has a Catalina 38(?) with IMF.
> > >
> > > Jesse Shumaker
> > > S/V Zephyr
> > >
> > > On Sun, Jul 19, 2020 at 2:39 PM Tom Van Heule <
> > > tom.vanheule at intrinsicprograms.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > > Hi, I came across this article today - and was searching in the
> > archives
> > > > for any details - lots of talk on the IMF, but nothing explaining the
> > > > system (that I have found!).  Aside, Is anyone using battens?
> vertical
> > or
> > > > horizontal?    Is the GBI system similar/different from the Selden
> > > > description?
> > > > https://www.sailmagazine.com/diy/how-to-a-trouble-free-furling-main
> > > >
> > > > It was a nice read to hear some support for IMF in either case.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > Tom Van Heule
> > > > Intrinsic Programs
> > > > tom.vanheule at intrinsicprograms.com
> > > > +1 303 525 5266
> > > >
> > >
> >
>