[Rhodes22-list] Art's desire for IMF

[ed kroposki]

Art,
	The mast are not the same height.  Therefore the standing rigging
has to be changed.  When you add up new mast, new sails and new rigging,
then and the labor to make the change, well you just add up the real dollar
amount.  The IMF mast and the internal hardware are unique Stanley designs
so your local replacement mast dealer cannot help.  
	As for availability of used IMF mast, the boats that come into Stan
for recycle get those that come in.  Historically more buyers of recycled
boats want the IMF.  So if you want to upgrade you are talking about top
dollar costs for a new mast.  When all is said and done, probably more than
you paid for your boat.
	This is why the EBay Rhodes is such a deal.  Buy the boat for the
mast and rigging.  The mast is worth more than the boat.  However, the hull
is new enough so that when fixed up the package is a good buy.  That is if
you can do the work (labor for glasswork, repair of rigging, new main sail
and other fixins).  Remember the costs of rebuilding a boat may be more than
the cost of a new one.
	Study about the inner workings of Stan's IMF, see:  
http://www.manus.igus.com/testimonials.htm  and page down until you see the
plastic bearings discussion and pictures of doughnut.  Or go to:
http://www.seldenmast.com/  and price out a competitors IMF.

Ed K
Greenville, SC, USA