Our mainsail has full battens, and the leech (the aft part of the sail which flogs) end of the battens often get caught on the upsidedown Y shape in the legs. Hey Rick! We added a stackpack to our boat 2 years ago and we love it! Have never really liked the stack pack for aethetic reasons as every, Keep the lazy jacks stowed forward at the mast till I need them to drop the sail. We do have a full battened mainsail. An upgrade was necessary for durability. We also needed three or four sail ties to keep our heavy sail together before fitting the cover. I agreed on the condition we swap ideas, as his shop was the only other manufacturer making improvements on each cover. There's also a bit more weight where you don't want it. Lee-on-the-Solent,
The drop-off point is the widest point of our sail covers. My wife and I owned a Jeanneau 36i as part of the Sunsail fleet. They do require extra cinching down when at the slip or they become another thing to bang against the mast. The Zero To Cruising site has been in existence since October 2008, and now has over 2500 posts. We use the process for covers on all sorts of vessels on which a permanent, more rigid shape is a benefit to the way a cover sits. , 2022 Out Chasing Stars - WordPress Theme by Kadence WP. The rear and forward ends are fully reinforced and we use a fully turned tabling reinforcing for all main edges. I would think that when traveling down where you are heading that the concern would be tight and low profile when the sails are down, since you will be more likely to get into heavier weather. A zip on a sail cover is sitting flat, horizontal to the sun. Ive never actually seen a boat with that system. I've had stack pack & lazy jacks on the project list for a long time. JavaScript is disabled. A pulley connects the risers and to the middle of the legs or at least it should be! All rights reserved. At the end of the day it's just a case of zipping it up and buckling the mast cover across (which forms part of the stack bag so there is no need to completely remove it). We first fitted home built lazy jacks in about 2000, when we bought our new sails. Several times I've delivered a J40 that is equipped with a Doyle StackPack and I thought it a wonderful system. It is important that the lazy jacks never take the full weight of the sail and the boom. A smaller cover seems a good idea, and it will have to survive strong winds so it will need to be robust. You are using an out of date browser. ~~~ Recapping our 10 Favorite Photos from the Baha, The mast came down! Between the strong track and the Mack Pack the main was neaver easier to handle, head up into the wind , release the halyard and the main drops and practically flakes itself. Thanks, we are still searching for a solution weve been using Cat Impis solution which is just free the main sheet an let the boom out to follow the wind, and this works well in stable seas and constant wind, but not so much if the seas are rough talked to one guy who ran the lazy Jacks to blocks on the end of the spreader and then to the mast and down; never got a clear answer as to how he controlled the extra tension in the lines when down wind and the boom was well out, Pulling the lazy jacks forward and down is appealing, but wonder if the sail would fall out a bit over the boom might try it and see I dont think I need to do anything but connect a line to the top block on each side and pull it down once I loosen the lazy jacks. The lazy jacks are still even and they have no problem going to one side or the other. http://www.zerotocruising.com/an-intro-to-williwaws/, Stack pack? Comments are moderated and will show up after being approved. The covers are held to the boom with slugs. I have a standard Sunbrella canvas mainsail cover that seems to be needing mending a lot; e.g., zippers, velcro, etc. It is amazing how much more we raise the main now that we have a stack pack. Early in my business I spent time analyzing failure points of covers. At the aft end, we add a 200mm zip extension. We supply our Mainsail Stackpacks without Lazyjacks as these are best configured on the boat and are usually installed by a rigger. You can get around the first two by easing the lazyjacks after hoisting the sail (then tightening them up before you drop), and by tucking the stack pack down next to the boom to reduce windage. Most people that have them like them. I posted earlier, and the reason I didn't mention any of those things is that they don't occur with ours. Some people rig their lazyjacks long enough that they can pull them forward to the gooseneck, eliminating sail distortion and almost all of the windage. FWIW I've sailed a different delivery with a similar system which used a fishing line filament for the lazy jacks, With the pack systems in use there was no need to touch the lazy jacks until removing the whole system at the end of the season. I ordered a new 140% dacron triradial RF genoa for family sailing last year and compared to my racing sails, that thing is heavy. - The argument for the Dutchman. The only way to clear it is to go up on deck and fuss with the sail. In addition, where the covers are mounted to the mast with track, sometimes we add a zip on one side to allow the owner access to the mast runners. As a result I could not remove it without also removing the main sail. Required fields are marked *, You may use these HTML tags and attributes:
. You must log in or register to reply here. I only ever use them singlehanded, though, or if we're dumping the main to do a touch-and-go in a marina. We were discussing lazy jacks with one FP owner. Otherwise, our enclosure is rolled up and out of sight. Doing this also allows the reef points to sit where necessary without running them through the cover. Ladybird's getting a new mainsail made over the winter and I'm trying to decide whether to order:-, It is all down to cost.I have the full system & think it is great. Accepted file types: jpg, png, jpeg, Max. We used to have lazyjacks and I used stackpacks on other boats. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. I made my lazyjacks system with about $25 worth of material (two cheek blocks, a bunch of 2mm dyneema, some 1/8 (3mm) Marlow, single braid pre stretch, two small horn cleats which were already on the mast, and 4 plastic low profile faileads for under the boom), I made my lazyjacks system with about $25 worth of material. If your worried about the bulk of the stack pack acting as a sail, lower the lazy jacks and secure the stack pack with a few wraps of lines as you would a traditional main. I thought I would fold back the bimini too, but I have come to appreciate the shade in the summer heat. I think that having a separate track, and having the sail pre-rigged as you described, is the safest way to go. Many of the original designs needed zip replacement regularly, mainly because of rough treatment. I'm in the process of adding lazy jacks and a stack pack. Not quite as convenient but only a couple of minutes extra work. Yes, it solves one problem or headache of securing the unruly mainsail, but it creates others. I'd really like to know any tricks for getting them to work on mine. I have a Dutchman system and it is great raising the sail I don't have to worry about it snagging on the lazy jack lines and when I drop the sail it flakes nicely onto the boom. The material on Frosts present stack packs is old and faded, and the stitching has given way in many spots. Some great feedback there, with the majority in favour of Stac-Pack and only JumbleDuck quite 'anti'. The brand new Vectran was so slippery that the sail was impossible to handle. The Boat Galley offers a way to loosen your lazy jacks. Lazy jacks make the sail handling so much easier. I wonder if the stack pack is not at its best chartering, when the boat is likely to sail somewhere every day, and to see the afternoon at anchor every day. It worked perfectly. As long as I can find clear space in the marina to drift for a couple of minutes, I can drop the sail and do a quick sloppy flake, tied up with the dangling reefing lines. 2) was there issue with extra tension on the jack lines when the boom swings out downwind. I was thinking about a stack pack as a possible solution. With quick clips you dont even need to zip it closed for short periods of time. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I think the stack pack may create too much windage for higher latitude sailing. As expected, others tried to copy our work with limited success. This angles the lazy jacks away from the mast and makes it less likely that they will catch the battens while raising the mainsail. It is so much simpler and faster than flaking and covering. I'm a functionality is beautiful type of person. Another advantage of a Stackpack is that the sail stays furled within its protective cover on top of the boom, not draped over the boom. Your email address will not be published. This way you can stand at the mast and open and close the bag. I also sail short handed and single handed quite often, a Stack-Pack system really make life easier. I used that for about 15 years and then took another stab with a Quantum bag unit. file size: 32 MB. I don't mind lifting the 155% kevlar-mylar triradial, but the dacron 140% is a beast. We believe most manufacturers create a water catcher by placing the batten too high. Instead of getting new ones made, we could just have the ones that we have repaired. Aaron Stroud-Smith runs Canvas Barn Marine Trimming in Swan Reach, Victoria, Australia. We use continuous zippers and again at the aft end. With lashings you saybut doesn t it slide down? We will be replacing our 14 year old traditional sail cover with another traditional cover when we get to NZ. The Boat Galley offers a way to loosen your lazy jacks and move them forward just before raising the mainsail, but thats two trips to the mast that you may not have to take. I should have added I have the Kemp stackpack and think it is great, sail zipped up in a few seconds. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. There, they usually have their own cleats on either side where you secure the lines. All the replies conspicuously avoid mentioning THE primary problem with stack-packs. All you need is the replacement line and your knowledge of the most important knots for sailors the bowline! Reefing lines are accommodated for by either zipped access when the mainsail is not loose-footed. Our boat is complex. Good luck with whatever your decision will be. THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. Most of the original designs had removable front sections, which became annoying as many were blown, even lost, overboard. Then just zip it right up, zip on the front piece and you're literally good to go. That main on the 33RH is really huge. 1/16" seems very small to handle. If your mainsail has full battens you can practically GUARANTEE that on either raising or lowering the mainsail at least one of the battens WILL get snagged on the stack pack cordage! Daedalus Park, Daedalus Drive
These are boom runners every 300mm, or 1 foot, apart. That's a different problem although somewhat related because it looks like I would need a #35 self-tailing winch (according to the "P" number of the sail = 43) to solve that problem (and those are about 900.00 ). Check here to Subscribe to notifications for new posts. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Jason Bedell, Hello Dave, Each leg is tied to the stack pack loop on either end, so you have four lines that make up your legs, all eight ends of the legs tied to the stack pack. This adds a second tier of breathability and allows the release of water. I would investigate the zipper issue. World Renowned Reputation - The UK's Premier Boat Cover Maker, WORLD RENOWNED REPUTATION
Lacing shock cord loosely between these eyelets stops bird access. what stack pack? IMHO the stack pack was a pain in the derriere. It would be interesting to know what Evans Starzinger did on Hawk. Its much easier for me to drop and secure a mainsail in a stack pack with lazy jacks than a traditional system. Sail goes up n down quickly. Alternatively, get in touch with us by filling out an enquiry form below. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. On my last boat I added a strong track and a Mack Pack with lazy jacks from Mack Sails in Stuart , Fl. Our solution istwo-fold: First, the teeth are sewn inside each edge by 8mm (1/4 inch). http://www.doylesails.com/cruising/dutchman/index.html. Can I get an approx. I would not worry about a stackpack affecting beercan racing. If the sail is loose footed, does it impair the sail shape downwind, and can you even have a loose footed sail with a stack pack? JavaScript is disabled. Use a hot knife with the rope cutter attachment to trim your rope and use our tricks to replace running rigging to remove the old lazy jack and replace it with the newer one. Where most manufacturers carry the batten to the end of the cover, we stop them short of the end. Nope, we dont want one. Rig your own lazyjacks upcheap as chips. They have improved greatly. We kept the same system for 13 years, with only minor modification to the length and layout of lines, with a conventional mainsail cover. The boat I used to crew on did install a Tides plastic track, and the owner loved it. Second, I make a molded acrylic cover flap, 60mm (2 inches) wide. Interesting. I searched every canvas maker, sail maker and sites that, If the attachment for the upper ends of the lazy jacks is placed about 2/3, Powered by vBulletin Version 3.8.8 Beta 1, Seamanship, Navigation & Boat Handling, Rules of the Road, Regulations, & Red Tape. I'm sure in higher winds things will be wonderful and I won't be bouncing up and down on the deck while trying to flake and rig the sail ties much to the relief (and mine too) of my wife. All Lazyjack attachment points are fully reinforced and we use Jackstay webbing with a 2-ton breaking strain for the attachment points. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. However, we never had to test the arrangements for real in heavy weather so I cant speak from that experience. With a loose-footed main, the reefing lines are accessed through the bottom of the Stackpack with access openings incorporated. Greg, Looking to exploring installing a stat pak and fast track system on a Hylas 44, Your email address will not be published. Theyre just not in my experience the smooth, easy, one-step. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. If you will be raising and dropping the main regularly like when cruising, then a pack system is much better. I started making these Lazy Jack covers 20 years ago, as a progress/advance of the Lazy Jack rope system, designed to help flake a main sail as it is put away. Become a member today and get discounted pricing on registration, Marine Fabricator Buyers Guide Company Directory (Opens PDF in New Tab), Marine Fabricator Buyers Guide Company Directory. I can't imagine handling or cleating off 1/16" lines, because our 1/8" sometimes is difficult to handle when I need to make adjustments or drop the pack. This stops any friction on the continuous-loop system. On RG we had it set up to be able to bring the lazy jacks to the mast and then put a separate track on the mainmast. Oh, and if you have a storm trysail (which we dont have) which would probably fit to a separate track on the main mast, youd need to figure that out as well. New winch may not be necessary with the Tides. This method helps our sail covers shed rain. Vela Sailing Technology - Lazy Cradle Mainsail System - Boom up to 5.5 meters, Lazyjacks for Your Mainsail - Sail Magazine. The covers we build are all Sunbrella acrylic canvas and are fully lined with mesh. We do not adjust ours at all. A huge stack pack bag is likely to cause you major problems in the stronger winds you will encounter further south. Hants, PO13 9FX. Yes, they definitely do make things easier. I've single-handed for the last 25 years - would never consider having no boom bag and would be reluctant to go back to just lazy jacks. As an alternative to replacing them, we could just have new traditional sail covers made. My guess is that carbon tape sail will be much lighter than dacron. At the bottom of the sail cover we run 12mm-1/2-inch PVC pipe between the two layers, through which the rope runs. I will be attending the 2017 MFA Conference in Jacksonville, and am always available if you have any questions. This is going to cause chafing issues with the lines so he replaced the bowlines with pulleys. I deployed them right before taking the sail down, used sail ties to secure the sail to the boom, the pulled them back to the mast. Can you deal with thew indigo it creates? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Ideally, your mainsail will naturally flake as you lower it down inside the stack pack. I see a serious six pack. As for sail flaking, Ive sailed on a couple boats with a Dutchman system and the owners were very happy with them. Title says it all really. That is possible but the issue is not just windage when under sail but also when at anchor. How would you rig a storm sail? Last week was our f, Back to Starry Horizons at @safeharbornewenglandbo, Thanks San Deigo, you were great! It had a bolt rope which attached it to the boom. The lazy jacks tie to those loops. You must log in or register to reply here. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. When you raise the mainsail, the boom lifts higher than it does when the weight is on the topping lift. Privacy Guaranteed - your email is never shared with anyone, opt out any time. I have no practical experience with a stack pack and lazy jacks except a few sails on my friends Omega 36. pay attention someone's life depends on it. Having the whole thing makes it even easier, with the sail being fully stowed away and covered in seconds, or a couple of mins if you put the mast section on. The No. Takes a bit more hardware, but you can retract the lazy jacks back to the mast once the sail is up, and after it is down and secured. The Lazyjacks attach to the stack pack by webbing loop, which is sewn onto the sides of the Stackpack. (though not hard if someone is tailing the line and you can use both hands on the handle and/or pull the halyard out from the mast). The main issue is being able to control and secure the main as quickly as possible when the oh shit moment happens, as youll probably have much more to worry about than just the main. I'm looking at the Vela Lazy Cradle (, My previous boats have had lazy jacks like jssailem that just capture the sail - they can be built very inexpensively and work well. Lashings done properly wont slip. Itstops abrasion from the corners of the sail when flaked and effectively stops the wearing to the Sunbrella and allows breathability. We tailor the end of the cover down to a small opening. User Agreement & Liability/Disclaimer Notice, Lazy Jacks or Dutchman? Its convenient, but I think if I had to do it over again I would rig my own lazy jacks and have my sail cover made with reinforced slits in it so I could secure it,and run the jack lines under the boom. 5 degrees to either side is enough to a cause it. Most people don't bother to do so unless racing. Nope, doesnt slide. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Or is that special order, and what about the rest of the mounting gear, Im fine with a zipper on a rope, but whats the price diff, with continouse pully? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Marine Fabricator Magazine is a publication of the Advanced Textiles Association. If one's pack system does not, this is easy to alter with some extra jackline, a cleat, and maybe a small block. We then moved to either a front or side zip, and the excess fabric was tucked away on Velcro tabs inside the cover, as they are prepared for sailing. You can still use your old cover with lazy jacks. They always seem to fail on covers, so I might want some kind of ties as a back-up. It was just recently done and I've only had the boat out on the Chesapeake Bay in about 6 knots of wind so far which was good for the first time to see how things worked together. Covering it is very important to eliminate UV degradation of the top zipper.