There's really not much you can do with the Featherlite. Only comes with one shaft length. Almost all other consumer curved shaft weedeaters are the same overall length.

Your options are to look at a straight shaft (with gearbox at the end) or a higher end curved shaft such as Stihl FS-46 or the Tanaka TBC-225 which have shafts 6" longer than usual.

I just might see if I can get that none working homelite going. I have two of them so I may just start swapping parts. Thanks for the info...