I looked up the Ez Jax and see how they “stow away”, but I don’t think this unique only to the Ez Jax brand. I see other brands that have the line running down the mast on both sides so the lines could be released and pulled back and down to the boom to put on a regular sail cover. Thoughts ?
Lazy Jacks ?
- Thread starter BTC1984
- Start date
I have the SailCare Sail Cradle lazy jacks. The price was excellent. I will build my own next time but this was a good kit to start out with, learn and modify. It stows parallel with the mast and does not require modifications to the sail cover
That is not true. Yours were custom engineered EZJonz.I installed the EZJax, LazyJacks system, shown by @Hayden Watson on my boat. They work exceedingly well.
A joyful assistant to maintaining a safe sailing experience.
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This is similar to the original EZJax which were commercially available from a shop out of Port Townsend but the geometry is not quite right. The secrete to the Jax is that when they are stowed, only the final ring on the hoisting line is long enough to reach the gooseneck. On the one you have shown, the top block will be part way up the mast and the two lines attached to it will turn at the gooseneck.
Before I went to a stack pack I had a two legged lazy jack system. My 12.5' boom really needed at least a 3 legged system but your boat with a 10.5' boom may do OK with a two legged system.
I never took my LJs to the mast even though they were adjustable. I would ease them so I could put the sail cover on inside of the LJs.
When getting ready to drop the main I would snug them up so they would catch the sail better. Then after the sail was tied on to the boom, I would ease them again to put the cover back on. I never found the need to modify the sail cover for the LJs or to take them to the mast.
I never took my LJs to the mast even though they were adjustable. I would ease them so I could put the sail cover on inside of the LJs.
When getting ready to drop the main I would snug them up so they would catch the sail better. Then after the sail was tied on to the boom, I would ease them again to put the cover back on. I never found the need to modify the sail cover for the LJs or to take them to the mast.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,217
That is true. Mine were custom designed by a super duper engineer. Installed by a gurus. And worked by a dufus. 
I have a Mack Pack with integrated lazy jacks. I can ease my jacks, and leave the sail cover in place (typical set up in heavier winds), or I can loosen the jacks and pull them vertical to the boom and secure the up at the mast, and drop the pack so I can get the full benefit of my loose-footed main (typically set up this way in light winds).
The first time I took Tally Ho out for a sail by myself, and dropped the main all over the cockpit, I was committed to getting some sort of sail-handling setup. I have been very happy with it ever since.
Greg
The first time I took Tally Ho out for a sail by myself, and dropped the main all over the cockpit, I was committed to getting some sort of sail-handling setup. I have been very happy with it ever since.
Greg
Where did you pick up the dufus?!?!?That is true. Mine were custom designed by a super duper engineer. Installed by a gurus. And worked by a dufus.
When I built my Pap-Pac, I wanted something that would maintain the advantages of the EZJax. My pac can be stowed by pulling the jax forward to the mast so that they did not interfere with raising the mast or trimming the loose footed main. I lower the jax and pull them forward, then roll the pac up and secure the roll with sail ties that are attached to the bottom edge of the pac. Here are some photos of the system.
Finished Pap Pac
Padeye and bungy to hole up front edge
Pac with one side dropped down. Note that inside is lined with sailcloth which provides a great deal of abrasion resistance which Sunbrella does not have and makes the inside much more slippery so that the sail slides inside easier.
Sail tied to boom with integral sail ties. These ties have an adjustable long leg on the inside and a fixed short leg on the outside. The clips on these ties are opposite on each side. To tie the sail to the boom, the inner ties are adjusted out long enough to reach over the sail. To tie the pac to the boom, the inner tie is adjusted short so that it fits snuggly around the rolled up pac.
Jax pulled forward in preparation for rolling up pac.
Starboard side pac rolled up and secured with integral sail ties.
Pac rolle and jax stowed for sailing.
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Nope.
I can “roll down” the Mack Pack and it lays parallel with the boom. Or I can just drop the top securement at the mast and let the cover hang down from the boom. This doesn’t really impede vision, but it looks messy.
So, if in light winds, i will loosen the jacks and pull them forward to the mast, and roll down the bag. If in heavy winds, I don’t bother doing much more than putting an arms length of slack in the jacks line so they don’t misshapen the sail.
Here is a short video showing the Mack Pack in the “windy” configuration…
This is a long video, but in the first 5 minutes, I show the Mack Pack in light winds and in this case, I rolled down the bag, and loosened the jacks. I didn’t pull them forward (I can be lazy).
Finally, in this video, I show the Mack Pack down and the jacks pulled forward to the madt.
These may give you a little more idea how my Mack Pack works.
Greg