I've had a persistant problem with the full battens on my mainsail catching on my lazy jacks when raising the main. The sail has to be lowered slightly, and pulled one direction, or the other, before attempting again. The lazy jacks are homemade, but looking at the problem, I see no obvious design change that would resolve the issue. Is this a common problem? Is there any change to the lazy jacks that would solve this?
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LOOSEN ONE SIDE.
BEFORE HOISTING THE SAIL LOOSEN THE TENSION OF THE LAZYJACKS ON ONE SIDE, OR THE OTHER AND THEY SHOULDN'T CATCH.
BEFORE HOISTING THE SAIL LOOSEN THE TENSION OF THE LAZYJACKS ON ONE SIDE, OR THE OTHER AND THEY SHOULDN'T CATCH.
Get this
The other day my topping lift got caught in the main halyard clasp, preventing me from dropping the main. I quickly detached the topping lift and tied it to a reefing line so I could get the thing down. Never happened in 20 years.
The other day my topping lift got caught in the main halyard clasp, preventing me from dropping the main. I quickly detached the topping lift and tied it to a reefing line so I could get the thing down. Never happened in 20 years.
Design matters
Hi there, As noted above, loosening one or both sides of the lazyjacks will help prevent this. So will taking them forward altogether before hoisting. So will attaching the upper ends to the underside of the spreaders (for single spreader rigs) or bungying them out the the intermediates (for a double spreader rig. So will configuring them for the straightest line to the boom. If, for instance, it's a 3-legged configuration, the bridle section should be forward, not aft. And of course where on the boom the lazyjacks are anchored makes a big difference. This is one of those things that seem really simple until you get into it; then you realize why a lot of people hate lazyjacks. They just assume that they can't be made for truly lazy Jacks. They can. Fair leads, Brion Toss
Hi there, As noted above, loosening one or both sides of the lazyjacks will help prevent this. So will taking them forward altogether before hoisting. So will attaching the upper ends to the underside of the spreaders (for single spreader rigs) or bungying them out the the intermediates (for a double spreader rig. So will configuring them for the straightest line to the boom. If, for instance, it's a 3-legged configuration, the bridle section should be forward, not aft. And of course where on the boom the lazyjacks are anchored makes a big difference. This is one of those things that seem really simple until you get into it; then you realize why a lot of people hate lazyjacks. They just assume that they can't be made for truly lazy Jacks. They can. Fair leads, Brion Toss
Vertical LJs
On my 376 I kept the topping lift when converting from Dutchman to Lazy Jacks. I simply whipped 4 off 1" diameter "D" rings to the topping lift and each has a pair of lazy jacks coming vertically down to the sail cover. As the LJs are vertical the batten ends cannot catch either going up or coming down. I also arranged each pair of LJs to attach to the sail cover about 18" forwards of each batten end so each batten cannot get the wrong side of the respective LJs either. The finishing touch was to bring the tail of the topping lift back to the cockpit using sheaves and jammer thoughtfully provided by Hunter on the original build. So now I can lower the sail and then hoist the boom out of the way without leaving the cockpit. Of course one needs to handle the sail to zip up the cover.hoist
On my 376 I kept the topping lift when converting from Dutchman to Lazy Jacks. I simply whipped 4 off 1" diameter "D" rings to the topping lift and each has a pair of lazy jacks coming vertically down to the sail cover. As the LJs are vertical the batten ends cannot catch either going up or coming down. I also arranged each pair of LJs to attach to the sail cover about 18" forwards of each batten end so each batten cannot get the wrong side of the respective LJs either. The finishing touch was to bring the tail of the topping lift back to the cockpit using sheaves and jammer thoughtfully provided by Hunter on the original build. So now I can lower the sail and then hoist the boom out of the way without leaving the cockpit. Of course one needs to handle the sail to zip up the cover.hoist
Lazy Jacks
I had the same problem. I also wondered why there was so much tail on the lazy jack lines. Then one day I noticed another boat with the lazy jacks pulled forward to the mast, hooked into a large J hooks (which also serve as reefing hooks) then tightened to minimize slapping. Haven't had a problem since.
I had the same problem. I also wondered why there was so much tail on the lazy jack lines. Then one day I noticed another boat with the lazy jacks pulled forward to the mast, hooked into a large J hooks (which also serve as reefing hooks) then tightened to minimize slapping. Haven't had a problem since.
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