Loose footed main with Stack Pack vs non-loose footed main

kappykaplan · Sunday at 3:51 PM

Smokey, I went to a loose-footed main when I replaced it several years ago. It works just fine with the stack pack. Got both from Quantum.
1. If you had a non-loose footed main before does the loose footed perform better or not as well. ==> I don't notice any difference.
2 What sail loft did you use and/or what is the brand of sails ==> Quantum
3. How well did the sail loft meet your expectations and resolve any fit issues? ==> They did a great job, including bending on the new main and stack pack
4. What is the setup and how to you secure the stack pack when the sail is down. ==> The stack pack is integrated with lazy jacks.

FastOlson · Sunday at 4:20 PM

smokey73 said:
1. If you had a non-loose footed main before does the loose footed perform better or not as well.
2 What sail loft did you use and/or what is the brand of sails
3. How well did the sail loft meet your expectations and resolve any fit issues?
4. What is the setup and how to you secure the stack pack when the sail is down.

1. Works just the same. Remember that loose footed mains are not "new fangled" anymore, having been around for many decades.
2. We used to have a UK main when we added their "Lazy Cradle" brand of split cover. Changed to a North Sails main a few years ago, and it still works just as well.
3. No 'fit' issues to remediate. I gave UK all of their requested measurements - quite a number of points along the flaked sail - and the cradle/cover fit perfectly.
4. Lowering the main into the covers with the incorporated lazy jack system is quick and easy. As others note, the lazy jacks are integrated into the cover halves. You will get used to holding the zipper "halves" together as you use the light line to pull the large zipper pull up the flaked sail to the mast.
**Note that you should never try to use brute strength to get the zipper to "force" the halves together but rather hold them together and then easily pull the zipper forward to secure the sides. Works well.
You will still have to stand on the cabin top to manipulate the zipper, but I like that better than flaking a large main, from a slippery pile of sail on the cabin top, by myself.

Compared to having to deal with the size and bulk of a sail cover, it's a pretty good system. That said, even with the cover halves rolled up and secured when under sail, it's never gonna look as "photogenic" as the main would look with no canvas along the boom. All these solutions involve some compromise, but I do like lowering our large main and Not having it spill all over.

You did not ask, but for periods when not using the boat --like now, we do store the lazy jacks against each side of the mast, and plop our older sail cover over the whole thing to totally keep it dry and prevent possible winter storm damage to the $$ Lazy Cradle. That newer (and fast) composite main feels loved and appreciated, awaiting a return to duty next month...!

kappykaplan · Sunday at 4:22 PM

FastOlson said:
**Note that you should never try to use brute strength to get the zipper to "force" the halves together but rather hold them together and then easily pull the zipper forward the secure them. Works well.

jssailem · Sunday at 4:33 PM

Hi Smokie... Here are my 2 cents.

If you had a non-loose footed main before does the loose footed perform better or not as well.
1. I think my performance is better. I can do more to trim the main than before, and you can better shape the sail. It is not going to be Knots improvements, but when cruising, I can get the sail to be more efficient, which helps to keep the boat flatter.
What sail loft did you use and/or what is the brand of sails
1. I used North Sail. Very pleased with their sail construction and service. They are reasonably priced and have many options for anyone's sailing design desires.
How well did the sail loft meet your expectations and resolve any fit issues?
1. The main had no fit issues. The manager raised the sail and inspected it for fit. We discussed trim and how to install/remove the battens. The service was great.
What is the setup and how to you secure the stack pack when the sail is down.
1. I have LazyJacks; the loose foot is no problem.
2. To address your problem, I worked with a friend on the dock who has a new Catalina 355. It came with Doyle sails and a Doyle stackpack. He is changing the sail to footless. The slugs pulled out of the foot track. Doyle said they would resolve the issue under warranty. He asked how the pack would work because the pack he had was using the sail track. They told him they would upgrade the pack to handle the loose foot. They said the design was not working and changed their pack design. This should be something you discuss with whomever will provide your sail.

garymalmgren · 2025-03-10T01:09:29-0700

Gary doesn't like zippers.
RE: **Note that you should never try to use brute strength to get the zipper to "force" the halves together but rather hold them together and then easily pull the zipper forward the secure them. Works well.

Yeah. Works well until.......
A fold over flap with fasteners, velro or (my favorite) toggles will not let you down.

gary

Tally Ho · 2025-03-10T05:24:47-0700

I have a loose-footed main, and a Mack Pack pack. Works fine.

But in light air, I will loosen the jacks and drop the Mack Pack out of the way so I can loosen the outhaul to get more belly in the sail. In heavier winds, I don’t bother dropping the Mack pack.

I like the fact that I can drop the main, start motoring into the harbor, and have the lines coiled and the Mack Pack zipped up before I get back to my dock. And when I head out for a sail, I have the bag unzipped and halyard attached beforeI leave the dock, and I can raise the sail very quickly once out of the harbor.

Greg

captcoho · 2025-03-10T07:55:13-0700

I have a loose footed main built by North Sails, and a Lazy Bay from National Sails and I utilize my lazy jacks so when I drop the main it drops into the lazy bag with little to no effort and at the dock just zip it closed.
As far as sail trim, no different than before, but I don't race.

PAC3142 · 2025-03-10T08:05:38-0700

Smokey, Make sure your sailmaker knows if you have single line reefing or not. That will limit the maximum amount of sail you can reef. I ordered a mainsail from Hyde for my 1994 Hunter 37.5 and did my own measurements, and I'm happy with the sail other than the second reef is to high for the capacity of the single line reefing system.

Also, my loose footed main works fine with my stack pack, and I know the loose footed sail gives me better control of the sail draft.

Paul

Charlie98117 · 2025-03-10T08:09:00-0700

I went to a loose foot when I had my main replaced 12 years ago by my local loft Ballard Sails and love it. I just built a stack pack and incorporated some extra straps to allow it to be stowed if I want it out of the way.

mermike · 2025-03-10T09:47:43-0700

I have a Neil Pryde loose-footed main with stackpack. The only issue is folding the stackpack down and out of the way so as to not blanket the sail. It's difficult due to the battens that run the length of the stackpack. I've seen the Mack pack and think it is likely to work better.

Charlie98117 · 2025-03-10T12:23:38-0700

smokey73 said:
@Charlie98117 Did you use plans from sailrite or some other plans?

I looked a what Sailrite, Doyle and others were producing and then just took a bunch of measurements and made my own pattern. I did create a 3D model in SketchUp first to develop my idea.

Tally Ho · 2025-03-10T12:51:48-0700

Mack Sails Mack Pack doesn’t have any battens to hold it open. I can roll mine down if I want to allow the foot of the sail to be unencumbered (light air sailing for me).

Greg

PAC3142 · 2025-03-10T13:04:51-0700

smokey73 said:
@PAC3142 If the second reef is too high for your single line reefing do you have some other way to put in a reef at the second reef point?

Not at the moment. I've got several ideas including switching to 2 line reefing for the second reef, but haven't done anything yet. Probably the best plan is to take the sail to my local loft and have new lower 2nd reef cringles put in.

Hayden Watson · 2025-03-10T13:09:10-0700

I personally would not have another footed sail on any of my boats but then I love to trim. If you are a "set it and forget it" type of sailor, you likely will not notice any difference. The loose foot makes the outhaul your super weapon because you can easily ease the foot of the sail to create a very round and powerful foot in very light air or pull it bar tight to create a flat sail that will perform well in the higher wind speeds.

I changed my outhaul from the factory 3:1 system to a 12:1 system that makes outhaul trim very simple.

I do not like most stack packs which is why I designed and sewed my own PapPac. My problem with most is that they are always up and ruin the shape of the foot of the sail. Mine are dropped and rolled along the mast when sailing so that there is nothing to interfere with the main sail trim.

DArcy · 2025-03-10T14:38:13-0700

@Hayden Watson do you have a batten in yours? It would be great to see how it deploys if you have an photos to show.

Hayden Watson · 2025-03-10T17:09:02-0700

DArcy said:
@Hayden Watson do you have a batten in yours? It would be great to see how it deploys if you have an photos to show.

I use a 3/4" sch 80 pvc pipe for the battens. they are 12' long so I needed to splice a couple together to make them long enough. I did that by getting a 3' length of SS all-thread which I cut into three 12" long pieces. I ground notches into the end of one to make a thread tap, and the other two were used for 12" long splices.

Hayden Watson · 2025-03-10T17:11:41-0700

DArcy said:
@Hayden Watson do you have a batten in yours? It would be great to see how it deploys if you have an photos to show.

Loose footed main with Stack Pack vs non-loose footed main

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SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John

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