I had a hunter 31 and it was pretty easy to fold the main sail on the boom. The hunter 34 has a much longer boom and its was real difficult to fold the sail (at the dock) being out solo in the wind seems it would be real difficult. I have not as yet figured out how to set up the lazy jacks --but do not see how it could be much easier. Getting the sail cover on that is attached to the boom was very difficult also. Any simple suggestions?? Thank you Richard (Duke)
Hunter 34 Lazy Jacks and sail furling
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Folding Lazy Jacks
It was just mentioned recently by Ed Schenk showing how to set up lazy jacks that fold out of the way under the boom. The lazy jacks will help when lowering the sail down onto the boom but they will catch the battens when raising the sail and also in the way when putting the sail cover on,folding lazy jacks will make these problems go away. I will look and where I have folding lazy jacks that I made myself. Nick
It was just mentioned recently by Ed Schenk showing how to set up lazy jacks that fold out of the way under the boom. The lazy jacks will help when lowering the sail down onto the boom but they will catch the battens when raising the sail and also in the way when putting the sail cover on,folding lazy jacks will make these problems go away. I will look and where I have folding lazy jacks that I made myself. Nick
Lazy Jacks
I have lazy jacks on my Hunter 27 and I am alone when sailing most of the time. I agree there are some real hassels when snagging the battens, or when installing the sail cover, but, there is nothing like it when dropping the mainsail. I feel as though that convenience outways the limitations. When raising the main it is imperitive that you are heading directly into the wind. a few points off and it becomes more difficult. I will still keep them.
I have lazy jacks on my Hunter 27 and I am alone when sailing most of the time. I agree there are some real hassels when snagging the battens, or when installing the sail cover, but, there is nothing like it when dropping the mainsail. I feel as though that convenience outways the limitations. When raising the main it is imperitive that you are heading directly into the wind. a few points off and it becomes more difficult. I will still keep them.
lazy jack setup
My lazy jack lines go thru the sail cover.Is that the way yours work? Thanks, Richard
My lazy jack lines go thru the sail cover.Is that the way yours work? Thanks, Richard
I installed them on my 34 back in the '80's.
They were home made. You couldn't buy a reasonably priced set. Right after, Harken came out with theirs but they were basic. I built mine to store against the boom. I speak in past tense. After our rebuild I didn't reinstall them. We have full battens. That makes sail folding a snap. Just grab a batten and put it where I want it. The other folds just happen off of the battens. I love my full battens.
They were home made. You couldn't buy a reasonably priced set. Right after, Harken came out with theirs but they were basic. I built mine to store against the boom. I speak in past tense. After our rebuild I didn't reinstall them. We have full battens. That makes sail folding a snap. Just grab a batten and put it where I want it. The other folds just happen off of the battens. I love my full battens.
Sail Cover and Lazy Jack Issues
Richard, I just sailed my new (to me) Hunter 340 to the harbor yesterday and had the same problem. I am not used to having the sail cover attached to the boom, so I might be flaking it wrong -- I am used to flaking it for a more traditional removable sail cover that fastens under the boom. Is there a trick to flaking the sail for the Hunter attached-to-the-boom zipper-on-top type of cover? Also, the lazy jacks only helped moderately when the mainsail was lowered -- there is so much space between the two points at which they attach at the boom that the sail fell down to the deck anyway -- seems like it could use 1 or 2 more lines runnning down to keep the whole sail on the boom when it is lowered. Am curious to hear from others how they have managed these issues since this was my first time out with the new boat.
Richard, I just sailed my new (to me) Hunter 340 to the harbor yesterday and had the same problem. I am not used to having the sail cover attached to the boom, so I might be flaking it wrong -- I am used to flaking it for a more traditional removable sail cover that fastens under the boom. Is there a trick to flaking the sail for the Hunter attached-to-the-boom zipper-on-top type of cover? Also, the lazy jacks only helped moderately when the mainsail was lowered -- there is so much space between the two points at which they attach at the boom that the sail fell down to the deck anyway -- seems like it could use 1 or 2 more lines runnning down to keep the whole sail on the boom when it is lowered. Am curious to hear from others how they have managed these issues since this was my first time out with the new boat.
Lazy Jacks Suggestions
Noon, I'm still trying to figure out how the best way is to run my lazy jack lines. Im going to try and run 4 lines on each side of the boom so the sail will not fall between the cracks like the problem you have. I'm also having a problem trying to get the lines tru the sail cover slots. Last night was 49 degress so I gave up after 20 minutes . I will try again tonight. I had a really hard time folding the sail also. It is not a full batten which would certainly make it allot easier. Richard
Noon, I'm still trying to figure out how the best way is to run my lazy jack lines. Im going to try and run 4 lines on each side of the boom so the sail will not fall between the cracks like the problem you have. I'm also having a problem trying to get the lines tru the sail cover slots. Last night was 49 degress so I gave up after 20 minutes . I will try again tonight. I had a really hard time folding the sail also. It is not a full batten which would certainly make it allot easier. Richard
I installed EZ Jacks(tm).....
.....because they came with the boat. The PO never installed them. My H33.5 has a monster main and they definitely help but not as much as I had hoped. EZ Jacks(tm) were touted as the better alternative to Lazy Jacks but I'm seriously disappointed in them. They are custom made to your boat's specs. They came with boat-specific instructions for installation and I followed them to a "T".I don't think they were designed/sized properly. They are set up so that you can lay them down to run alongside the boom when you put the sail cover on. My sail cover fastens with 5 plastic buckles. I just put enough slack in the EZ Jacks(tm) and I can put the cover on normally with the EZ Jacks(tm) exiting the bottom.
.....because they came with the boat. The PO never installed them. My H33.5 has a monster main and they definitely help but not as much as I had hoped. EZ Jacks(tm) were touted as the better alternative to Lazy Jacks but I'm seriously disappointed in them. They are custom made to your boat's specs. They came with boat-specific instructions for installation and I followed them to a "T".I don't think they were designed/sized properly. They are set up so that you can lay them down to run alongside the boom when you put the sail cover on. My sail cover fastens with 5 plastic buckles. I just put enough slack in the EZ Jacks(tm) and I can put the cover on normally with the EZ Jacks(tm) exiting the bottom.
Lazy Jacks
Duke Take a look at the following site - do a search (Skip Meisch - lazy jacks). I used his system on a Catalina25 and a Catalina30 and they worked very well plus they were cheap to build. The hardest part is positioning the attachment points so the mainsail drops correctely. That took a little time especially locating the aft attachment point. I modified the lazy jacks so they folded up against the boom when not in use. Additionally, I made one other change. The two lines go through 2 blocks below the spreaders on each side of the mast. What I did was "Y" the 2 lines into one. It made the setup easier to work. Skip Meisch is a friend of mine and if you were racing C22's in the Seattle area he is your worse nightmare and almost impossable to beat. He tinks nothing of sailing his boat 25 or 30 miles to a race, sails the race and whips everyone and then sails home the same day and does it singlehanded!!
Duke Take a look at the following site - do a search (Skip Meisch - lazy jacks). I used his system on a Catalina25 and a Catalina30 and they worked very well plus they were cheap to build. The hardest part is positioning the attachment points so the mainsail drops correctely. That took a little time especially locating the aft attachment point. I modified the lazy jacks so they folded up against the boom when not in use. Additionally, I made one other change. The two lines go through 2 blocks below the spreaders on each side of the mast. What I did was "Y" the 2 lines into one. It made the setup easier to work. Skip Meisch is a friend of mine and if you were racing C22's in the Seattle area he is your worse nightmare and almost impossable to beat. He tinks nothing of sailing his boat 25 or 30 miles to a race, sails the race and whips everyone and then sails home the same day and does it singlehanded!!
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