Hi Barry,

Even if the internal halyard is missing, you should still be able to see the rope exit hole in the headsail foil and the cleat near the bottom of the foil.  All this should readily visible even with the mast stepped.  You might even see the halyard!

Originally, my 1978 Rhodes had a CDI furler wherein the head of the genoa was literally bolted into a threaded hole near the top of the headsail foil.  The luff was tensioned with a downhaul and cleat at the foot of the sail. The luff was sewn into a sleeve that slid over the headsail foil.  The sail had to be installed with mast down.  You depended on the roller furler to work properly because the genoa couldn’t be dropped with the mast up.

I would be surprised if your Rhodes has this system as it hasn’t been produced for many years.

I replaced that roller furler with a Harken unit 0.  This roller furler has an airfoil shaped headsail foil and independent upper and lower ball bearing swivels. The headsail foil has twin luff grooves designed to accept #6 luff tape, so multiple headsails can be hoisted.  The independent upper and lower swivels enable much better sail shape to be maintained over a wider furling range.

Roger Pihlaja
S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
1978. Sanford, MI

Sent from my iPhone

> On May 17, 2026, at 11:25 AM, BARRY RUEHLEN <RUEHBL at msn.com> wrote:
>
> Thank you Roger. We'll check that out the next time we drop the mast. My boat partner will be very happy if that's the case. He's always been perturbed that there was not a halyard system.
> Barry
>
> Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
> Get Outlook for Android<https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg>
> ________________________________
> From: Rhodes22-list <rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org> on behalf of ROGER PIHLAJA <roger_pihlaja at msn.com>
> Sent: Sunday, May 17, 2026 10:12:51 AM
> To: The Rhodes Email List <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> Cc: The Rhodes Email List <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Jib Sail
>
> Hi Barry,
>
> Some models of CDI roller furlers have an internal halyard.  Check the foil to see if there are internal blocks.  If the internal halyard is missing, the CDI website has instructions how to rig a new one.
>
> Roger Pihlaja
> S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
> Sanford, MI. 1978
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On May 17, 2026, at 6:52 AM, BARRY RUEHLEN <ruehbl at msn.com> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Cindy,
>> I'm new to sailing, but my partner in the boat has sailed all his life. We have spent the last few years reviving an 87 model. She is now absolutaly sound and beautiful. My partner says our 175 is blown out, so we have interest in a replacement. The headsail that came with the boat does not have a halyard to lower and change out, but we are thinking the furler is a CDI brand that could have been rigged with a halyard. We'll have to drop the mast to make sure. If it can be rigged with a halyard, we may be interested in a better 175 and a 135, so we have some flexibility depending on wind. Can you give us an idea of costs. We assume that if you are selling them there is ample life left in them. We've come a long way on the boat, and probably should buy new, but the cost of this refurbish has gone way over the top. You know how that goes.
>>
>> Best,
>> Barry Ruehlen
>> SV '87 Rhodes22 (name under review)
>> St. James City, Fl
>>
>> ________________________________
>> From: Rhodes22-list <rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org> on behalf of Cindy Spitzer <cindyspitzer at gmail.com>
>> Sent: Friday, May 8, 2026 1:28 PM
>> To: The Rhodes 22 Email List <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Jib Sail
>>
>> What size are you looking for 135, 175, etc.?
>> I have a few used genoas available at my home in Baltimore. I'll be back
>> there later this month.
>>
>> Cindy Spitzer
>>
>>>> On Fri, May 8, 2026, 10:44 AM Michael Dale <killarneylake at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> Does anyone have a jib sail for sale? Mine is falling apart and sail repair
>>> services in this region rival the cost of buying a new sail.
>>>
>>> Michael Dale
>>>