[Rhodes22-list] Installed new IMF Battened Main Today

[David Culp]

I hauled the boat and lowered the mast today.  Took the opportunity to
install my new battened, IMF main that Stan sold me.  It was the first time
that I got to take a look at the IMF system and it was simple to take apart
and put back together.  The only effort was stretching the luff of the sail
so that it would use the same screw holes that old one did and I found it
impossible to quite do it.  Stan, you must use a block and tackle at the
factory to do it, either that or the battened main's luff is a little
shorter.  Anyway, we stretched the luff as much as we could without bending
the grooved tube and it was perfectly smooth and tight.   I reinstalled it
and It rolled up just fine with no wrinkles and I think it is going to be
fine.

It didn't come with any directions so a couple of questions for anyone who
has the battened IMF:

1.  Do you leave the batten in the sail when the boat is slip or take it out
every time?

2.  The sail came with a short piece of batten rod  with a tied line on it-I
have an idea what it's for but am not sure since I haven't used the sail
yet.

3.  There is a long velcro strip attached to the batten pocket how is that
used with the batten is installed?

Thanks and Happy Holidays to everyone.

David Culp