You have to uncoil it, and it takes a while for the memory to strighten it out, but you can help it by just coiling it for a moment in hte opposiute direction.
Your furler will stick out beyond the bow pulpit by about 4 feet. We just hook our boat hook through one of the holes in the furler drum, and lash the handle to the mast, to give the furler support in transit.