Has anybody fitted a 240 or 260 with a Dutchman or Lazy Jacks? Which works better and how should I do it? Thanks Gary
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Dutch or Lazy
Gary, The Dutchman system requires holes to be put in the sails to allow permenently install wire to run through. The idea is that when you go to drop the sail, it is held in place by these wires and allows the sail to flake like an accordian. You must also alter your sail cover to allow for this set up. On the other hand, Lazy Jacks can be built and installed so that they can be moved and secured out of the way while sailing and then released into position to form a cradle that will catch the sail as you lower it. Seems to me that if you really want a way to catch and hold the sail on the boom when lowering, the lazy jacks are a better way to go. Sail Care in PA. had some nice looking lazy jacks for sale at the Boat Show here in Miami in February. You could probably contact them by searching the web for www.sailcare.com to get more information. Believe lazy jacks would be less costly too. Hope this helps. Good luck in you decision.
Gary, The Dutchman system requires holes to be put in the sails to allow permenently install wire to run through. The idea is that when you go to drop the sail, it is held in place by these wires and allows the sail to flake like an accordian. You must also alter your sail cover to allow for this set up. On the other hand, Lazy Jacks can be built and installed so that they can be moved and secured out of the way while sailing and then released into position to form a cradle that will catch the sail as you lower it. Seems to me that if you really want a way to catch and hold the sail on the boom when lowering, the lazy jacks are a better way to go. Sail Care in PA. had some nice looking lazy jacks for sale at the Boat Show here in Miami in February. You could probably contact them by searching the web for www.sailcare.com to get more information. Believe lazy jacks would be less costly too. Hope this helps. Good luck in you decision.
Home made lazy jacks...
Follow the link for a home-made lazy jack system. I built this as a prototype and have been using it it for 5 years! Fair winds, Tom
Follow the link for a home-made lazy jack system. I built this as a prototype and have been using it it for 5 years! Fair winds, Tom
Lazy Jack Kit
Barton Marine have a new light weight kit that works very well and is at a reasonable price. Go to www.bartonmarine.com and look under NEW PRODUCTS.
Barton Marine have a new light weight kit that works very well and is at a reasonable price. Go to www.bartonmarine.com and look under NEW PRODUCTS.
Tom's Lazy Jacks
Tom - I think I'll give this a try. Question: why the 12" bungies at the bottom of the support lines instead of just solid support lines all the way down? I've never been on a boat with Lazy Jacks. If you head to wind and drop the main when the wind is becoming too strong, can you then motor "as-is" without the main flogging around or do you still need to go up and secure it with a few sail ties before bearing off and heading for home? ...RickM...
Tom - I think I'll give this a try. Question: why the 12" bungies at the bottom of the support lines instead of just solid support lines all the way down? I've never been on a boat with Lazy Jacks. If you head to wind and drop the main when the wind is becoming too strong, can you then motor "as-is" without the main flogging around or do you still need to go up and secure it with a few sail ties before bearing off and heading for home? ...RickM...
Rick M....
The bungies at the bottom of the support lines make it easy to clip off on the mast when not connected to the cradle, and provide tension in the lines so they don't slap around on the mast. Could do without them, but it does add a little more convenience. When you drop the main, it is contained in the lazy jacks. Sometimes you have to tuck it in a little, and I usually put one quick tie at the end of the boom to keep the sail out of my face, but it isn't necessary. When I get back to my mooring, I tidy up the sail and put regular sail ties on. This is much easier with the jack lines supporting the sail. Then I disconnect the upper supports so I can put the sail cover on. The cradle lies at the bottom of the boom and gets covered, too. The support lines get secured on the outlet for the jib halyard, which happens to be in a good spot to attach to. If there wasn't an exsiting location, I'd put a pad eye on the mast at the right spot. Fair winds, Tom
The bungies at the bottom of the support lines make it easy to clip off on the mast when not connected to the cradle, and provide tension in the lines so they don't slap around on the mast. Could do without them, but it does add a little more convenience. When you drop the main, it is contained in the lazy jacks. Sometimes you have to tuck it in a little, and I usually put one quick tie at the end of the boom to keep the sail out of my face, but it isn't necessary. When I get back to my mooring, I tidy up the sail and put regular sail ties on. This is much easier with the jack lines supporting the sail. Then I disconnect the upper supports so I can put the sail cover on. The cradle lies at the bottom of the boom and gets covered, too. The support lines get secured on the outlet for the jib halyard, which happens to be in a good spot to attach to. If there wasn't an exsiting location, I'd put a pad eye on the mast at the right spot. Fair winds, Tom
LazyJack Lines above or below Spreaders?
Question for those of you that have installed LazyJacks on 240's or 260's. Did you attach the lines to the mast above or below the spreaders? Thanks, Marc_B
Question for those of you that have installed LazyJacks on 240's or 260's. Did you attach the lines to the mast above or below the spreaders? Thanks, Marc_B
Lazy Jacks
I have lazy jacks on my hunter 26 and they work fairly well. I sail by myself from time to time and this does help lowering the sail. I don't have experience with the Duthman system, but lazy jacks do help if you sail solo. That being said, they are not perfect. I still have to do some folding and tucking while I tie the sail down, but it is easier. At times, they get in the way when you raise the sail, the head or top batten catches on the jack lines if you are not pointed exactly into the wind or if you do not pull the main up fast enough.
I have lazy jacks on my hunter 26 and they work fairly well. I sail by myself from time to time and this does help lowering the sail. I don't have experience with the Duthman system, but lazy jacks do help if you sail solo. That being said, they are not perfect. I still have to do some folding and tucking while I tie the sail down, but it is easier. At times, they get in the way when you raise the sail, the head or top batten catches on the jack lines if you are not pointed exactly into the wind or if you do not pull the main up fast enough.
Tom's Lazy Jacks - another question
Tom - Are the bungee cord hooks on your lazyjacks the metal type that they use on each end of the typical short pre-made bungees, IE one piece of metal bent into a hook at one end and spiralled like a spring at the other where the cord inserts and gets held? That's what I've found so far, but I'm wondering if the sail and battens might catch on them. ...RickM...
Tom - Are the bungee cord hooks on your lazyjacks the metal type that they use on each end of the typical short pre-made bungees, IE one piece of metal bent into a hook at one end and spiralled like a spring at the other where the cord inserts and gets held? That's what I've found so far, but I'm wondering if the sail and battens might catch on them. ...RickM...
Lazy Jack
I strongly recommend the Sail Cradle kit from Sail Care, Inc. I am anything but handy and found the installation very easy (kit includes drill bit an easy instructions). Used the cradle for the first time Sunday, worked great and I was alone on a 23.5.
I strongly recommend the Sail Cradle kit from Sail Care, Inc. I am anything but handy and found the installation very easy (kit includes drill bit an easy instructions). Used the cradle for the first time Sunday, worked great and I was alone on a 23.5.
Shock cord hooks...
The hooks I used are plastic (maybe nylon) and are made to fit very neatly on the end of a shock cord. They are available from West marine (and probably Boat US). West stock numbers 2690626 - for 1/4" shock cord 2690634 - for 5/16" shock cord See link for URL
The hooks I used are plastic (maybe nylon) and are made to fit very neatly on the end of a shock cord. They are available from West marine (and probably Boat US). West stock numbers 2690626 - for 1/4" shock cord 2690634 - for 5/16" shock cord See link for URL
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