Dutchman Flake System. Keep it?

[rfrye1]

Its time to replace the Mono line on my Hunter 376. I've done it before and its kinda a pain. I'm thinking about just not using it in the future, since I'm careful to flake the main anyway.
Your thoughts?
Thanks Bob.

 

[jssailem]

Bob.. I believe it is a personal thing. I am a hands on manual kind of sailor. I still raise lower and reef sails at the mast. So flaking a sail is just a part of my seamanship tasks. It is not easier than managing a Dutchman system, just different. For me simpler.
I take a bit longer to get to the post sail sipping time, but I also enjoy the journey and tasks just as much.
So it is the pain you choose that you get to live with.
Fair winds.

 

[Johnb]

Having nothing at all can be a severe PITA. When I got my under designed lazy jacks it all became much easier, I can drop the main outside the marina and then tidy it up after docking. Before it would be all over the cockpit. I do have full length battens which maybe makes it harder.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

I infer you are not intending to replace it with a different sail handling system. If not, one or two tries should suffice to give you your own answer how much the Dutchman helps.

 

[Justin_NSA]

I have the Dutchman system. I still have to reflake the main when we get in. My reason for keeping it is to keep the sail from spilling across the deck. I replaced my topping lift with enough line that I can lower the top monofilement clamp to the deck. It makes replacing it simple.

 

[SG]

We have a Dutchman system and a much larger main sail. I find that reefing the sail is better with the Dutchman as well as just facilitating flaking the sail on the boom

If you don't value it, and you're the only one that has to flake the sail, then -- do whatever.

I'd replace it, but that's me.

 

[shemandr]

I had one and I liked it. It would keep the main near the boom when lowered. Yes, I would re-schuffle the flakes but it was pretty easy. If you sail alone, almost at all, I would keep it. If you have crew whenever you want to sail, I guess you don't need it.

 

[Terry Cox]

Hi Bob, still have ours and like it. The system does help keep things together while I flake. Replaced our monofilament a few years ago as it was overdue. Went with a spool of weed eater monofilament.

 

[jviss]

Its time to replace the Mono line on my Hunter 376.

How do you know it's time to replace the mono? Where do you get it?

I have a Dutchman system this year, a first for me. I replaced the mono, it's 500lb. test, but smaller diameter than what was there.

I like the system. It's great when it works, I'm still messing around with adjustments.

 

[Rich Stidger]

I had the Dutchman on my h40.5 previously. I have also had lazy jacks on prior sailboats. Each has it's pro's and con's. The Dutchman looks like a superior system compared to lazy jacks, but my experience says that the adjustments need to be just right. At the boat shows they have a demo that is a short mast and a well-trained sail. It works flawlessly. On my boat in real life, not so much. As others have said the Dutchman does keep the sail on the boom, but I never achieved the perfect flaking that is demonstrated at the shows. I always had to pull out and straighten many flakes. This can be difficult if you have a bimini that you need to stretch over to reach the sail, and pulling the boom to one side in a breeze isn't easy either. Lastly putting on the sail cover, especially with a bimini is difficult.
My experience with lazy jacks is that the sail doesn't flake perfectly either. Like the Dutchman they keep the sail on the boom but require straightening before covering.
I guess I would recommend keeping the Dutchman in the hope that I could ultimately achieve the "right" adjustments and get the sail to flake well. An older soft sail will may not ever flake well. Storing it over the winter with the same flakes may help the sail to remember the folds- I'm not sure.
I mentioned that I had the Dutchman previously on my h40.5. That system along with my Tides Marine Strong Track and both of my sails were sold to another h40.5 owner. I replaced my OEM Z-Spar boom with a Schaefer Gamma roller-furling boom. Best upgrade I have ever done.

 

[NYSail]

I loved my Dutchman..... kept my sail on the boom then I would perfect the flake in the slip. Option I guess is to hire a professional flanker that sits quietly on deck and flakes when dropped.

Good luck!

 

[LakeOntario270]

The Admiral would keel haul me if I got rid of the Dutchman. When the Main drops a little clean up of the sail is all that is needed to get the cover on, all before reaching the dock.
I replaced the line with some heavy duty fish line.

 

[shemandr]

I used weed wacker monofilament.

 

[NotCook]

We have had a Dutchman system on the boat for 15 years, on both the main and the mizzen. I have mixed feelings about them. I’ve replaced them once, and they are due again. They do keep the sails up off the deck, for the most part, if adjusted properly and you raise your roping lift before dropping the sail.

I’m not sure I would bother with them again. In fact, we are plantto replace the main with a mizzen staysail just to make sail handling easier.

 

[walmsleyc]

I had the Dutchman system on my old main, and have nothing on my new main.

Dutchman:
- Needs some setup to have it work well. rarely needs adjustment later unless something changes
- Change my boat from a fixed boom topping lift (secured at the mast head) to a second main halyard as a topping lift so removing the sail could take the whole topping lift away and dutchman system with it. No re-adjusting next spring!
- Drop the main, and it mostly lands on the boom, quick and easy.
- Still needs to be re-flaked a little for final storage
- replaced filament once, then had to re-adjust things

Now:
- sailmaker didn't want me to spoil new main by putting holes in it, so have no system at all
- heavy main, and it sort of naturally flakes, but totally ends up on the deck without guidance
- pondering retractable lazy jacks so I don't have to fill the sail with holes for the dutchman system

Chris

 

[CaptKimble]

While somewhat of a PITA to set up initially when replacing the lines (which I used weed whacker line for) I have learned the in's and out's of the system and find it to be quite nice for keeping the sail off the deck and easier to put away. We did find a small rip at the top most hole where the mono line passes thru the sail but we are having the sail repaired this year and that is on the list. It does make reefing a lot cleaner and easier by the way but that is just my humble opinion.