Went sailing with the wife last weekend. We are still getting the feel for our new boat. The conditions were pretty breezy but tolerable. So, In order to nip any disagreements in the bud I decided to reef our WB boat early. Problem is I've got Harken lazy jacks and one reefing point on the sail. The wind kept blowing the head of the sail under the tangs of the lazy jack. Part of the sail was on one side of the harness and the other part of the sail on the other. Tried pulling it out but kept blowing back as soon as I turned. The only other thing I could have done at that point was to release the sail, shake out the reef and use full sail. By that time the wife was ready for her second valium so we called it a day. I like the concept of the jacks but I have concerns about whether they negatively effect the sail shape. Also, any ideas how I can pull back the lazy jacks when I'm under way and release them back to normal position when I'm ready to drop sail. Thanks for the help. Paul H S/V Linda Belle
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Greg Stebbins
Yep, that's what jacks do sometimes.
Paul, You may have to move the mast attachment point down or up a bit. I went to the Schiefer jacks because they pull back against the mast (Stowed position). This avoids the problem.
Paul, You may have to move the mast attachment point down or up a bit. I went to the Schiefer jacks because they pull back against the mast (Stowed position). This avoids the problem.
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Michael Bell
Same
I did the same as the above response, except I made them myself. Easy to do - even easier if you can see one on a boat. Not only can you pull them back to the mast, you can adjust the tension to allow the sail to fill out.
I did the same as the above response, except I made them myself. Easy to do - even easier if you can see one on a boat. Not only can you pull them back to the mast, you can adjust the tension to allow the sail to fill out.
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Paul Housman
Crazy Jacks-addendum
One of the problems is that the previous owner took down the topping lift so the only thing holding the boom up is the Lazy Jacks. Been toying with the idea of a rigid boom vang or dropping the mast and adding a topping lift.
One of the problems is that the previous owner took down the topping lift so the only thing holding the boom up is the Lazy Jacks. Been toying with the idea of a rigid boom vang or dropping the mast and adding a topping lift.
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Ron Mehringer
Love 'em or hate 'em
People seem to either love or hate lazy jacks. When I added mine, made by SailCare, I was certain I'd love them. After a summer of use, I'm having second thoughts. They are great for dropping the sail, but raising the sail often causes snags when the sail get caught in the lines. As per the previous advice, the attachment points are critical. In you case it definitely sounds like you'll need to move the mast attachment. Also, I wouldn't consider any system that's not retractable. The SailCare system is mostly made from heavy duty bungees with eye splices and can be retracted to the mast when not in use.
People seem to either love or hate lazy jacks. When I added mine, made by SailCare, I was certain I'd love them. After a summer of use, I'm having second thoughts. They are great for dropping the sail, but raising the sail often causes snags when the sail get caught in the lines. As per the previous advice, the attachment points are critical. In you case it definitely sounds like you'll need to move the mast attachment. Also, I wouldn't consider any system that's not retractable. The SailCare system is mostly made from heavy duty bungees with eye splices and can be retracted to the mast when not in use.
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Ron Mehringer
Crazy Jacks-addendum
I believe as a general rule, lazy jacks should not be used in place of the topping lift. Reinstall the topping lift or add a rigid vang, like you mentioned. The Garhauer (www.garhauer.com) rigid vang seems to be poplular with H26 owners.
I believe as a general rule, lazy jacks should not be used in place of the topping lift. Reinstall the topping lift or add a rigid vang, like you mentioned. The Garhauer (www.garhauer.com) rigid vang seems to be poplular with H26 owners.
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Corky
jacks
I have to sail reefed alot in high wind Kansas and mine never get caught. Only when hoisting the main. See if moving them around helps i.e. the distal end of them. The other thsgn is to pull them forward with bunge cordsafter releasing them. Work on it as I never have that problem. Corky
I have to sail reefed alot in high wind Kansas and mine never get caught. Only when hoisting the main. See if moving them around helps i.e. the distal end of them. The other thsgn is to pull them forward with bunge cordsafter releasing them. Work on it as I never have that problem. Corky
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Mike Pajewski
They need to be a little slack
I have Harken lazy jacks on my H26. I installed them using Harken's instruction and suggested locations. Harken does not recommend supporting the boom with the lazy jacks, so that is your major issue. They should be adjusted slack enough to keep the sail from snagging and tight enough to keep the sail from falling off the boom. I have found you have to be dead into the wind or the top two battens will snag. We have used them for two seasons, and I would not give them up. Mike Pajewski H26 "Loon"
I have Harken lazy jacks on my H26. I installed them using Harken's instruction and suggested locations. Harken does not recommend supporting the boom with the lazy jacks, so that is your major issue. They should be adjusted slack enough to keep the sail from snagging and tight enough to keep the sail from falling off the boom. I have found you have to be dead into the wind or the top two battens will snag. We have used them for two seasons, and I would not give them up. Mike Pajewski H26 "Loon"
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Don Alexander
Crazy Crazy Jacks
Designers are like sheep. Once one has made something that seems to work everyone else copies it without a single original thought. I made my own sail coat and lazy jacks. My jacks are VERTICAL so cannot foul the batten ends. This was done by attaching them to the topping lift instead of the mast. Just put the lower ends on the boom/sail cover about 18" inside the batten ends. To clear the big roach I found it necessary to attach the forward set to the topping lift close to the masthead. Setup has never fouled all season. Regards,
Designers are like sheep. Once one has made something that seems to work everyone else copies it without a single original thought. I made my own sail coat and lazy jacks. My jacks are VERTICAL so cannot foul the batten ends. This was done by attaching them to the topping lift instead of the mast. Just put the lower ends on the boom/sail cover about 18" inside the batten ends. To clear the big roach I found it necessary to attach the forward set to the topping lift close to the masthead. Setup has never fouled all season. Regards,
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Jim Russell
Attach to the Spreader
Perhaps you've done this, but you may want to attach the top of the lazy jack farther out on the spreader. Maybe this is not possible on your boat. On my 340, the lazy jack is about 6-8 inches out from the mast on the spreader. It gives me a little more fudge factor. Increasing that might help more. Jim
Perhaps you've done this, but you may want to attach the top of the lazy jack farther out on the spreader. Maybe this is not possible on your boat. On my 340, the lazy jack is about 6-8 inches out from the mast on the spreader. It gives me a little more fudge factor. Increasing that might help more. Jim
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Paul
EZ Jaxs
EZ Jax - ezjax.com - makes a nice system that is retractable and less $$ than the Harken or Schaffer set up. Lazy Jacks are what allow me to single hand. And the EZ Jax system works great.
EZ Jax - ezjax.com - makes a nice system that is retractable and less $$ than the Harken or Schaffer set up. Lazy Jacks are what allow me to single hand. And the EZ Jax system works great.
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Dick McKee
Mike is correct..
We have the Harken system on our 430 and I can't imagene lowering a main that large with only 2 people on board with out the system. I agree with Mike that the lift lines should be loose when the sail is raised. Our procedure is 1) turn directly into the wind under power 2) raise the sail about 90% 3) loosen the toping lift of the jacks 4)raise the sail the remainder of the way. Works like a charm for us.. Hope this helps Dick McKee S/V Constellation
We have the Harken system on our 430 and I can't imagene lowering a main that large with only 2 people on board with out the system. I agree with Mike that the lift lines should be loose when the sail is raised. Our procedure is 1) turn directly into the wind under power 2) raise the sail about 90% 3) loosen the toping lift of the jacks 4)raise the sail the remainder of the way. Works like a charm for us.. Hope this helps Dick McKee S/V Constellation
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Paul Housman
Crazy Jacks
Thanks for all the info!!! I decided this spring to add back the topping lift and add some line to my jacks so they can be loosened. Paul H S/V Linda Belle
Thanks for all the info!!! I decided this spring to add back the topping lift and add some line to my jacks so they can be loosened. Paul H S/V Linda Belle
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