I'm thinking way ahead here in preperation for my new 170 in the spring. Any tricks on dropping the main??? Do they sell and type of lazy jackish system to get the sail cleanly to the boom. I used to sail a 13ft something or other and it was always a mess, sail cloth all over the cockpit.
How to bring down a main sail
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Lazy Jacks
I was looking at Sail Cares web site and noticed they have a Lazy Jack system for small boats. They have a 1-800 number and won't mind answering any questions you may have.
I was looking at Sail Cares web site and noticed they have a Lazy Jack system for small boats. They have a 1-800 number and won't mind answering any questions you may have.
Dropping the main 
I have a 170, (2years now) the main drops easily. I tow my boat so I'm always de rigging. When I lower the main,I just flake my sail on the boom and use a couple of bungie cords to keep it in place. I have seen other post for the "LAZY JACK". I don't know if the LAZY JACK would impair the sailing or not since this is a much smaller boat than what most LAZY JACKS are used on. Do you plan on towing your boat or leaving it rigged for the season ? If you are towing, I don't think I would use a LAZY JACK, just something eles to rig and I want to sail as soon as I can.
I have a 170, (2years now) the main drops easily. I tow my boat so I'm always de rigging. When I lower the main,I just flake my sail on the boom and use a couple of bungie cords to keep it in place. I have seen other post for the "LAZY JACK". I don't know if the LAZY JACK would impair the sailing or not since this is a much smaller boat than what most LAZY JACKS are used on. Do you plan on towing your boat or leaving it rigged for the season ? If you are towing, I don't think I would use a LAZY JACK, just something eles to rig and I want to sail as soon as I can.
Sails Cares???
Ken, could you post the link for Sail Cares. I did a search and could not find anything. Glen, I will be towing the boat 100% of the time. The reason why I asked about the lazy jackish system was this. Saturday we were sailing on a friends 38ft Sabre. He had these pretty cool things that were attached to the main sail on both sides. They were about 18 inches long, vertical and looked like 150lb test fishing line. They were stepped off from one side to the other. When he dropped the main it would nicely flake on the boom. Just an idea...
Ken, could you post the link for Sail Cares. I did a search and could not find anything. Glen, I will be towing the boat 100% of the time. The reason why I asked about the lazy jackish system was this. Saturday we were sailing on a friends 38ft Sabre. He had these pretty cool things that were attached to the main sail on both sides. They were about 18 inches long, vertical and looked like 150lb test fishing line. They were stepped off from one side to the other. When he dropped the main it would nicely flake on the boom. Just an idea...
Lazy Jacks
Yes, I know what your talking about and yes I thought about adding them to my 170. What changed my mind was, I was always towing my boat and saw no reasonable need for the lazy jack. I did leave my boat in the water on a three day trip, fully rigged. The salis were just fine, I flaked the main and secured with bungie cords (4). If you want to spend some money on an effective piece of equipment, think about a "boom Kicker" and changing your boom vang to an 8:1.........this is really nice set up and several of us H.D.A.S.C. members have done this up grade to our 170's If your interested in some photos of the boom kicker on my boat send me an e-mail glenn.basore@medtronic.com and I will send you the pictures. 38 foot Sabre, thats nice, may be in my next life
Yes, I know what your talking about and yes I thought about adding them to my 170. What changed my mind was, I was always towing my boat and saw no reasonable need for the lazy jack. I did leave my boat in the water on a three day trip, fully rigged. The salis were just fine, I flaked the main and secured with bungie cords (4). If you want to spend some money on an effective piece of equipment, think about a "boom Kicker" and changing your boom vang to an 8:1.........this is really nice set up and several of us H.D.A.S.C. members have done this up grade to our 170's If your interested in some photos of the boom kicker on my boat send me an e-mail glenn.basore@medtronic.com and I will send you the pictures. 38 foot Sabre, thats nice, may be in my next life
Topping lift
For the record, just remember the 170 comes with a topping lift. This holds the boom up and out of the way nicely for lowering and flaking the sail. I too, just bungie the sail to the boom and then if I am closing up shop for the day, I put on my mainsail cover (I leave mine out on the water all season). Some say they don't like the topping lift because it hinders sail shape, and prefer to use a boom kicker. I haven't noticed a sail shape problem, but have not seen how the boom kicker works first hand. I don't see that lazy jacks would be necessary either way (and I think it would get in the way of the easy access stern).
For the record, just remember the 170 comes with a topping lift. This holds the boom up and out of the way nicely for lowering and flaking the sail. I too, just bungie the sail to the boom and then if I am closing up shop for the day, I put on my mainsail cover (I leave mine out on the water all season). Some say they don't like the topping lift because it hinders sail shape, and prefer to use a boom kicker. I haven't noticed a sail shape problem, but have not seen how the boom kicker works first hand. I don't see that lazy jacks would be necessary either way (and I think it would get in the way of the easy access stern).
Nice looking boat !
I still like looking at a 170 even if its not mine. I have noy had mine out since Sept. 17th, seems like so long ago........:-(
I still like looking at a 170 even if its not mine. I have noy had mine out since Sept. 17th, seems like so long ago........:-(
Don't complicate a blessedly simple boat
On a large boat, a lazy jack may be helpful. There is just not that much sail cloth on a 170...flaking it over the boom is a snap. Since I have never had one, I can't speak to it's effecct on rigging/derigging, but if you will be doing this 100% of the time, then you want to have at little as possible to do at either end of your sail. Good luck!
On a large boat, a lazy jack may be helpful. There is just not that much sail cloth on a 170...flaking it over the boom is a snap. Since I have never had one, I can't speak to it's effecct on rigging/derigging, but if you will be doing this 100% of the time, then you want to have at little as possible to do at either end of your sail. Good luck!
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