[Rhodes22-list] IMF "Reefing"

Bill Effros bill at effros.com
Sat Feb 17 09:55:05 EST 2007


Wally,

Comparing "reefing" on standard sails vs. IMF sails is very hard to do 
when discussing among sailors some of whom have never even seen an IMF.

"Reef Points" result in noticeable changes in sail size. The IMF is 
infinitely adjustable. I often adjust my sail in increments of 5% of 
total sail size. I suspect most IMF sailors change the size of their 
sails instead of using the traveler. We don't think of it as "reefing" 
-- it is an adjustment the sailor can quickly make in response to 
changing conditions.

The extra weight of the mast is insignificant. Remember that your sail 
is larger, adding weight aloft compared to the smaller IMF sail. But, 
since the boat is designed to be sailed upright, and can easily be 
trimmed to sail upright, the difference in performance due to weight is 
probably no greater in an IMF boat than the difference of carrying an 
extra bottle of rum. Or not.

I carry my extra sail on the Genoa instead of the main sail. Both are 
infinitely adjustable while single handing. When conditions change, I 
change the set of my sails, all by myself, so easily that even a lazy 
sailor will do it.

I think the biggest surprise about the IMF is how well it works 
mechanically. The sail and mast are made for each other. There is no 
compromise here, and it is easy to extend and retract the sail under any 
conditions. My wife enjoys doing it.

Our harbor is busy on weekends with a very narrow neck, rocks all over 
the place, and a 10 foot tidal variation every 6 hours. It is 
irresponsible to sail into the harbor if you've got a motor, and most 
experienced larger boat sailors take their sails down just outside the 
neck, and motor to their moorings. We turn on the motor and don't even 
stop while we retract our sails. When my wife sees other wives trying to 
control flopping sails inside lazy jacks she shakes her head in 
disbelief. When other wives see my wife roll up our sail they ask their 
husbands why they don't have sails like ours.

Bill Effros





TN Rhodey wrote:
> Bill,
>
> Well I may be wrong here .....I guess it would depend upon how much 
> smaller the sail is verses the extra weight of mast. Way back when (on 
> the sailnet list) there was discussion about this. In my opinion even 
> if the mast weighed the same you still might need to reef sooner with 
> IMF. Pure speculation on my part and I will admit I may be totally wrong.
>
> The R22 is small enough to be quite sensitive to subtle changes in 
> weight and trim adjustments. You pay a price with IMF in mast weight, 
> sail cut, no downhaul, no cunnungham, no battens (except for the new 
> rev). If you know how to use all these controls you can create a much 
> flatter sail. You would be surprised at the difference adding a vang 
> made even with IMF. I could still flatten the sail enough to make a 
> big difference ...sailing much flatter, fast, and higher into the wind.
>
> Everything is a trade off and for me the pros for IMF are well worth 
> any cons.
>
>
> Wally
>
>
>> From: Bill Effros <bill at effros.com>
>> Reply-To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>> To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Harken Lazy Jack
>> Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2007 09:02:30 -0500
>>
>> Wally,
>>
>> Why would a smaller sail need to reef sooner?
>>
>> Bill Effros
>>
>> TN Rhodey wrote:
>>> Joe, There are some performance trade offs with IMF. The sail is 
>>> smaller and I would think an IMF R22 would need to reef sooner but I 
>>> am just guessing. That extra weight aloft must have some effect on 
>>> balance.
>>>
>>> Wally
>>>
>>>> From: Joseph Hadzima <josef508 at yahoo.com>
>>>> Reply-To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>>>> To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>>>> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Harken Lazy Jack
>>>> Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2007 16:45:37 -0800 (PST)
>>>>
>>>> I've seen some other cool sail systems, some with sail
>>>> covers so you only need to zip it closed. Several replace
>>>> the slot in the main with a track system so even a kid
>>>> could hoist the main, and it drops into right into the sail
>>>> cover.
>>>>
>>>> A BIG advantage of the IMF (I believe) is the unlimited
>>>> reef points. Another is that is remains protected in the
>>>> mast during transport.
>>>>
>>>> I've only heard one mild complaint that the IMF mast is
>>>> thicker, and thus hinders pointing performance a little,
>>>> but like Stan says there are trade-offs ... unlimited easy
>>>> to set reef points, or slightly better pointing with the
>>>> possibility you'd need to bring down the main completely
>>>> because you couldn't depower enough.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> And I only had a minor problem with lazy Jacks where one of
>>>> the lines got wrapped around part of the sail, and we had
>>>> to lower and raise it again. But this was aboard a 65 foot
>>>> Schooner with gaft. So it was a little more trouble than
>>>> if it was a Rhodes with lazy jacks :-)
>>>>
>>>> Speaking of the A28 video ... I like the piston powered
>>>> Hoyt Jib boom for down wind sailing .. very nice feature.
>>>> Notice it's a working Jib and NOT 175 gennoa!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --- "Michael D. Weisner" <mweisner at ebsmed.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> > While viewing the AE28 video, I was impressed with the
>>>> > ease with which the owner was handling the main. He was
>>>> > using a Harken Lazy Jack system (installation manual at
>>>> > http://www.harken.com/pdf/4058.pdf.) At West Marine, the
>>>> > small Harken Lazy Jack is about $200.
>>>> >
>>>> > Has anyone ever used the Harken Lazy Jack on an R22 main
>>>> > sail? Does it interfere with boom movement? Does it jam
>>>> > easily?
>>>> >
>>>> > I know, with IMF, you have no need for it. I still
>>>> > haven't been able to justify the cost of the new IMF mast
>>>> > & hardware on our R22.
>>>> >
>>>> > I was just thinking that the Lazy Jack looked
>>>> > interesting. Maybe run the control lines (downhaul &
>>>> > halyard) back to the front of the cockpit, next to the
>>>> > pop-top, opposite to Genoa furling line. Comments?
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> > Mike
>>>> > s/v Shanghai'd Summer ('81)
>>>> > __________________________________________________
>>>> > Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help?
>>>> > www.rhodes22.org/list
>>>> >
>>>>
>>>> __________________________________________________
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>>>
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>
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