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

[Chris Geankoplis]

Yes, Jesse,
We are indeed lucky that our significant others enjoy sailing as much as we
do. It seems that this is true of many Rhodes owners. (or am I being
myopic?) I have met many truly happy sailing couples on our trips.  It
seems the key was that they both were involved and responsible for the
boat.  Met even more "Rogue Males" who sail alone, address only me in a
conversation and seem oblivious as to why no one seems to want to share in
their sailing experience.  Yup, we are lucky.

Chris & Alice Geankoplis
S/V Enosis

P.S.  Have almost finished the last part of Pt. 8  A Rhodes in the Med.
Just took me only a year to write it down.

.

On Mon, Jul 20, 2020 at 8:24 AM Jesse Shumaker <
jesse.laten.shumaker at gmail.com> wrote:

> Chris, thanks for the info.  As you mentioned, the convenience of the IMF
> makes a big difference.  I think that's one of the reasons my wife likes
> the R22.  I consider myself lucky that my wife likes to go sailing since
> there are a number of people at our local club where their significant
> other doesn't have an interest in spending time on their boat and considers
> sailing to be too much of a hassle.
>
> Good luck with the winter plans.  For so many reasons, hopefully things
> improve sooner rather than later regarding the pandemic.
>
> Jesse Shumaker
> S/V Zephyr
>
> On Mon, Jul 20, 2020 at 7:15 AM Chris Geankoplis <
> chrisgeankoplis at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > 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
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>