I'm wondering, what is the best way to flake the fully battened main on the H26? Should I let the sail material fall to alternate sides of the boom as each sail slug comes down OR should I have all the sail material always go to one side? I've been using the first method, but that creates a wide bulk of cloth. The second method cuts the width in half, but is it a bad practice? Thanks Ron s/v Hydro-Therapy
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We are listening?
I also would like to hear from the experts. We use the aternating method since it is easier to hold by one person while you tie the first sail tie before the rest is flaked. Battens have to rest on top of boom. The one side method tends to fall off if you don't have a mate to help. Lazy jacks may be the way to go, but more stuff to get in the way. Sailing has to be some work.. right?
I also would like to hear from the experts. We use the aternating method since it is easier to hold by one person while you tie the first sail tie before the rest is flaked. Battens have to rest on top of boom. The one side method tends to fall off if you don't have a mate to help. Lazy jacks may be the way to go, but more stuff to get in the way. Sailing has to be some work.. right?
Wrap & Roll
Note -- That's wrap, not rap! We wrap the sail around the battens on our H23.5 because the battens mess up fhe flaking action if you try to do it conventionally. Just wrap the sail around the longest batten. It's easier than trying to describe it. The final result is that a couple of bungies hold the sail on top of the mast without a problem but when flaked, it has a tendency to fall off and hang out below the sail cover. It's much easier to do single-handed too. Lazy-jacks and other helpers really add too much clutter to a small boat. Somebody will take issue with that but if I have two lines, they WILL become tangled! Ken S/V Wouff Hong
Note -- That's wrap, not rap! We wrap the sail around the battens on our H23.5 because the battens mess up fhe flaking action if you try to do it conventionally. Just wrap the sail around the longest batten. It's easier than trying to describe it. The final result is that a couple of bungies hold the sail on top of the mast without a problem but when flaked, it has a tendency to fall off and hang out below the sail cover. It's much easier to do single-handed too. Lazy-jacks and other helpers really add too much clutter to a small boat. Somebody will take issue with that but if I have two lines, they WILL become tangled! Ken S/V Wouff Hong
Flaking fully-battened main
I have been letting each fold sit squarely on the the boom (with half the width of each fold falling to each side) but making sure that the luff of the main between each sail slug is always pulled out to the same side of the boom as the hallyard winch on the mast. I drop each section, fold, tie, working from aft to fore. Can be done by one or two people just as well, but it is obviously faster with two.
I have been letting each fold sit squarely on the the boom (with half the width of each fold falling to each side) but making sure that the luff of the main between each sail slug is always pulled out to the same side of the boom as the hallyard winch on the mast. I drop each section, fold, tie, working from aft to fore. Can be done by one or two people just as well, but it is obviously faster with two.
Lazy Jacks Work Well
My experience has been different from Ken's. I recently designed and installed lazy jacks on my H 26 and have found them to work very well. I designed them to be pulled back along the boom and hooked around the reefing hooks when not deployed. That way they do not get in the way and do not foul any other lines. They allow the sail to fall naturally and with the battens on top of the boom. It helps to pull back on the leech as it falls to keep it stright, but is not necessary to drop the sail. I often sail single handed and find the lazy jacks very helpful. Otherwise, I need to stand on the cabin top and try to gather the sail as it falls, while trying to keep the boat pointing into the wind and search for sail ties. It is fun to watch. Best Wishes, Ned Christensen Second Wind
My experience has been different from Ken's. I recently designed and installed lazy jacks on my H 26 and have found them to work very well. I designed them to be pulled back along the boom and hooked around the reefing hooks when not deployed. That way they do not get in the way and do not foul any other lines. They allow the sail to fall naturally and with the battens on top of the boom. It helps to pull back on the leech as it falls to keep it stright, but is not necessary to drop the sail. I often sail single handed and find the lazy jacks very helpful. Otherwise, I need to stand on the cabin top and try to gather the sail as it falls, while trying to keep the boat pointing into the wind and search for sail ties. It is fun to watch. Best Wishes, Ned Christensen Second Wind
Lazy Jacks
We also put lazy jacks on our boat. They are the ones made by Sailcare and they can be retracted to the mast when not in use. Once adjusted correctly, they sure do make dropping the sail a lot easier. No sail spilling onto the deck as you try to tie things up. I was just curious as to how everyone neatend the sail up after dropping it. Thanks for the responses. Ron M s/v Hydro-Therapy
We also put lazy jacks on our boat. They are the ones made by Sailcare and they can be retracted to the mast when not in use. Once adjusted correctly, they sure do make dropping the sail a lot easier. No sail spilling onto the deck as you try to tie things up. I was just curious as to how everyone neatend the sail up after dropping it. Thanks for the responses. Ron M s/v Hydro-Therapy
Has Anyone Tried E-Z Jax?
I have been considering installing lazy jacks on my 240, but am concerned about "line clutter" as well. I sent away for literature on the EZ JAX brand, which are fully retractable, and am somewhat put off by the complexity of the installation (not to mention the issue of clutter again). Has anyone installed retractable lazy jacks on a 240? Is this a ridiculous option for a boat that size? And has anyone had direct experience on their boat or a friend's with the EZ JAX brand? I am particularly intrigued with Ned's statement that he designed his own. I started that project (working with carpet thread, pushpins and a piece of foamcore board to simulate the mast/boom configuration!) and came close to having a workable retractable design, but eventually put it aside for more pressing projects. Any input at all would be appreciated. Paul Jordan Mithrandir - H240
I have been considering installing lazy jacks on my 240, but am concerned about "line clutter" as well. I sent away for literature on the EZ JAX brand, which are fully retractable, and am somewhat put off by the complexity of the installation (not to mention the issue of clutter again). Has anyone installed retractable lazy jacks on a 240? Is this a ridiculous option for a boat that size? And has anyone had direct experience on their boat or a friend's with the EZ JAX brand? I am particularly intrigued with Ned's statement that he designed his own. I started that project (working with carpet thread, pushpins and a piece of foamcore board to simulate the mast/boom configuration!) and came close to having a workable retractable design, but eventually put it aside for more pressing projects. Any input at all would be appreciated. Paul Jordan Mithrandir - H240
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