Does anybody have any experience with the Doyle Stack Pack mainsail? What are the pros and cons? Do they work as described?
Doyle Stack Pack mainsail
- Thread starter Sherry
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Like mine
I have had two boats, a Beneteau 311 and currently a Beneteau 393 that have the stack pack (mine is the Neil Pryde, but same configuration). I have enjoyed the unit on both boats. Some complain that raising the main can be difficult, as battens tend to get caught on the aft line that supports the stack pack. I have learned to keep the boat in the wind, give the boom a little slack, and have almost no problem with catching the battens. The ease of dropping the sail in a zipper cover greatly outweighs the cons of occasional grief raising the sail.
I have had two boats, a Beneteau 311 and currently a Beneteau 393 that have the stack pack (mine is the Neil Pryde, but same configuration). I have enjoyed the unit on both boats. Some complain that raising the main can be difficult, as battens tend to get caught on the aft line that supports the stack pack. I have learned to keep the boat in the wind, give the boom a little slack, and have almost no problem with catching the battens. The ease of dropping the sail in a zipper cover greatly outweighs the cons of occasional grief raising the sail.
Stack Pack
I have the same experience with a Neail Pryde Lazy Bag. Works great but got to watch the battens while raising the main. I got one of my lazyjack lines run back to the cockpit, I can slack it while raising the sail to avoid catching the battens. My sail is fairly new (1-year) so it still needs help (i.e. standing on the mast) to flake nicely into the bag. I have marked the folds so that the flaking pattern remains the same, and its starting to develop memory which makes the job easier. Still, when in a hurry, the sail comes down into the bag rather than onto the deck.
I have the same experience with a Neail Pryde Lazy Bag. Works great but got to watch the battens while raising the main. I got one of my lazyjack lines run back to the cockpit, I can slack it while raising the sail to avoid catching the battens. My sail is fairly new (1-year) so it still needs help (i.e. standing on the mast) to flake nicely into the bag. I have marked the folds so that the flaking pattern remains the same, and its starting to develop memory which makes the job easier. Still, when in a hurry, the sail comes down into the bag rather than onto the deck.
Doyle Stack Pack
HI, Sherry, I have the doyle stack pack on my oday 28 and I love it. I do most of my sailing solo and do not have/ had any problems Its great I put the boat into the wind and set my autohelm at a low rpms and raise the main, in lowering the main the same procedeure and I flake it as I let it down and its in the cover pack. and not all over the deck and no tieing the sail up just tuck it in and zipper it up. I hope this information is a help there website shows it very good. Good Luck Frederick Pierce
HI, Sherry, I have the doyle stack pack on my oday 28 and I love it. I do most of my sailing solo and do not have/ had any problems Its great I put the boat into the wind and set my autohelm at a low rpms and raise the main, in lowering the main the same procedeure and I flake it as I let it down and its in the cover pack. and not all over the deck and no tieing the sail up just tuck it in and zipper it up. I hope this information is a help there website shows it very good. Good Luck Frederick Pierce
Stack Pack
I am just finishing my first season with a new boat (Beneteau 323) with the Doyle Stack Pack. I like it quite a bit. The only two issues are the one mentioned. At first I found the battens (my sail has almost full battens) catching the lazy jacks when raising the sail -- not a big problem once you pay attention to it. I also find that I usually have to go to the mast to help the sail down. This seems to be primarily due to friction on the sail slides, and it has improved when I lubricated the mainsail groove. I have also experimented with rigging a downhaul line to help me lower it from the cockpit, but haven't worked that our completely yet. But I no longer need to worry about stowing and setting up a sail cover, and overall I am very pleased. I had a Dutchman system on my previous boat and found that to be good, but a lot more finnicky in adjustment, and I still had to rig and store the mainsail cover.
I am just finishing my first season with a new boat (Beneteau 323) with the Doyle Stack Pack. I like it quite a bit. The only two issues are the one mentioned. At first I found the battens (my sail has almost full battens) catching the lazy jacks when raising the sail -- not a big problem once you pay attention to it. I also find that I usually have to go to the mast to help the sail down. This seems to be primarily due to friction on the sail slides, and it has improved when I lubricated the mainsail groove. I have also experimented with rigging a downhaul line to help me lower it from the cockpit, but haven't worked that our completely yet. But I no longer need to worry about stowing and setting up a sail cover, and overall I am very pleased. I had a Dutchman system on my previous boat and found that to be good, but a lot more finnicky in adjustment, and I still had to rig and store the mainsail cover.
works great
I have a doyl stackpack on my sabre - you need to be pointing dead into the wind to rasie it otherwise the battens catch. Easily overcome with an additional hand on roach as it goes up...
I have a doyl stackpack on my sabre - you need to be pointing dead into the wind to rasie it otherwise the battens catch. Easily overcome with an additional hand on roach as it goes up...
what about battens?
I am going to buy a new main. I will be primarily cruising, with a very occasional club race thrown in - nothing serious or regular. I am more interested in ease of handling for one or two people than the last bit of speed. Having said that, the Stack Pack is appealing. I guess the next decision is what length battens to get? I currently have no furling system and four full battens. They sure help in getting the sail under control when lowering it. This sail is so old and blown out, I really can't judge how they impact sail shape. I've been reading the other thread on the pros and cons of full battens. Sounds like they aren't necessarily the best way to go for sail shape and durability (chafe). So thoughts on full battens or not with the Stack Pack?
I am going to buy a new main. I will be primarily cruising, with a very occasional club race thrown in - nothing serious or regular. I am more interested in ease of handling for one or two people than the last bit of speed. Having said that, the Stack Pack is appealing. I guess the next decision is what length battens to get? I currently have no furling system and four full battens. They sure help in getting the sail under control when lowering it. This sail is so old and blown out, I really can't judge how they impact sail shape. I've been reading the other thread on the pros and cons of full battens. Sounds like they aren't necessarily the best way to go for sail shape and durability (chafe). So thoughts on full battens or not with the Stack Pack?
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