Lazy bag vs. lazy jacks

[wrbeglin]

I have a 323 originally equipped with a lazy bag. Time for replacement and I'm considering converting to easily adjustable lazy jacks and std. sail cover. I sail on an inland lake so rough water is never an issue. The bag is convenient, but has some drawbacks we're all familiar with.
Any experience out there regarding this idea. In partcular I'm concerned about sail contol on boom when reefed. I would have three lazy jack lines along the boom that I could slack and pull forward when racing or when the sail is tied in place and covered.
Bill
Past Behavin'

 

[Jackdaw]

We sail our First 36.7 equipped with Lazy Jacks on a loose footed main. As you note, they can be pulled forward to the gooseneck for racing to get them clean out of the way.

Most of the time we leave them out in deployed mode. First reef is never an issue, the sail flakes once and lays for the most part neatly alongside the boom. We have some sail ties handy JIC is flaps or otherwise bothers us, but I can never remember using them. Two reefs more sail to manage on the boom for sure. Sometimes we'll fold it over on its self, and loosely tie it to the boom thru one of the (unused) reefline holes in the sail.

The boom on the 367 is over 16 feet long, it makes for a big mainsail cover. There are times I wish WE had a bag! ;^)

Three line system the way to go, especially if your main is not fully battened.

 

[Ron20324]

...I'm considering converting to easily adjustable lazy jacks and std. sail cover....

Bill, when I needed to replace the 3 lazy jack lines on my 323 I added a 4th line since I was tired of the aft of the sail falling into the cockpit. I get too much water in the bag when in the slip, and it all dumps out (close the ports!) when I hoist the main. A couple years ago I ran the 'jacks up the front of the mast to a block thats already there, then back inside the mast to a line stopper on the cabin top. Maybe this was on the 323 web site?

I previously totally restitched my lazy bag. When it needs it again, i'll just make a "real" sail cover.

 

[wrbeglin]

Thanks, I agree with the water in the sail and a few other issues. Mine is a 2004 which had a non-sunbrella bag it after is now beyond repair. I was going to make or buy one out of sunbrella and started thinking about the benefits of just the lazy jacks and a regular cover and have pretty much decided to go that way, your input helps reinforce that decision.
Thanks

 

[wrbeglin]

Thanks Jackdaw,
Quick question, for loosening your lazy jacks to pull forward, do you have one continuouos line that controls both sides, or adjustments, cleat etc. on each side to adjust independently.

 

[Jackdaw]

Thanks Jackdaw,
Quick question, for loosening your lazy jacks to pull forward, do you have one continuouos line that controls both sides, or adjustments, cleat etc. on each side to adjust independently.

Its one continuous line, and it is a little bit of a hassle to get it thru the eye under that mast that holds the middle loop in place. There is too much drag there for it just to pull thru, so you feed some, pull some, feed some, pull some, etc..

 

[wrbeglin]

Thanks, that's what I was concerned about, still debating the best solution, seperate lines, a small right angle block under the boom etc.

 

[DougM]

I have likes and dislikes about the bag. I rigged my lines through blocks high on the mast, added small cleats at the mast base so that I could raise and lower the jack lines. Its ok not perfect. I would like to figure out a quick way to completely detach the bag on occasions when I am going to go for a longer sail. My bagisgoing to have tobe replaced anyway at six years. The material is still ok but the stitching is giving out. Thankfully I have a friend with a sewing machine. I will spend the money for a stronger uv resistant thread without hesitation.

 

[wrbeglin]

I noticed your 2004's serial number containing 4021, mine is 4027. My lazy bag has finally gotten to the point where the material is too brittle and dried out to stitch. As I mentioned I have considered using it as a pattern for a Sunbrella fabric version. But the fact that the bag holds water and I'd rather see the loose footed main completely while sailing and I can get most of the lowering/stowing benefit with a well placed set of lazy jack lines, I'm going to go with a standard sail cover and lazy jacks. I’m working on the best locations to attach the lines to the boom for maximum sail support while sailing and when reefed.

I'll throw the cover in the dock box for the weekend and be done with it till I leave. I'm also working on the set-up so I can easily slacken the lazy jack lines and pull them forward to the mast when sailing and even after lowering the sail and securing with sail ties so I don't have to cut slots in the sailcover. Stay tuned !

 

[PrincessoftheLake]

Three years ago I purchased a UK Sail Cradle and I love it. Lazy jacks hold up the bag for the loose footed main and the bag has battens along the opening edge which give it a nice shape. What I think is especially cool about it is after the main is hoisted you can roll up the bag to the boom, gather your jack lines and pull them forward and then clip jacklines and bag in place with the attached buckles. Jacklines and bag are out of the way. It's perfect.

 

[wrbeglin]

Great picture princess, could you send me a pick of the bag when stowed as you mentioned ?
Thanks
Bill

 

[PrincessoftheLake]

Great picture princess, could you send me a pick of the bag when stowed as you mentioned ?
Thanks
Bill

Bill-
I don't know if I have pic of the bag stowed that way. I can check tonight on my laptop and see if I do. I am including a link to the UK site where it talks about the sail cradle.
http://www.ukhalsey.com/sails/lazyCradle/index.asp

 

[JohnShannon]

I have a sail cover but am thinking lazy bag. Two reasons, sail cover is now stored on the boom so more room below, second is faster to put away the boat= more sailing time.

Opposing issues seem to be sail shape, and water leakage. The ukhalsey lazy cradle looks like it addresses sail shape, as it can be rolled out of the way. How is the water leakage issue?

 

[wrbeglin]

Thanks, I'll check it out. Good luck selling your boat, tough circumstances, been there !

 

[wrbeglin]

My lazy bag came with the Neil Pryde sails and admittedly is convenient. The water problem has to do with a relatively flat top, located between the support battens for the bag. This, along with the non-sunbrella material it was made of allows water to seep through. The UK Halsey design appears better in that respect with a more rounded top. Though I did notice on their video, they also use sail ties inside the bag and take time to tie the bag to the boom, which seems to defeat the purpose of the bag. As far as time, I don't see that as a big deal either way.

 

[PrincessoftheLake]

Though I did notice on their video, they also use sail ties inside the bag and take time to tie the bag to the boom, which seems to defeat the purpose of the bag. As far as time, I don't see that as a big deal either way.

Bill-
Take a look at the video. That is actually the sail bag being rolled up and clipped to the boom once the main sail is fully hoisted. Right after that bit of video there is a still picture of a boat sailing with the bag rolled up and the jack lines stowed inside the bag. You can see how nice it looks. What I really like is being able to adjust sail shape (rolling the bag out of the way allows me to take advantage of the loose foot) and not have it distorted by either dutchmen or jack lines. I really do love mine!

 

[Jackie and Dan]

I used a product called EZ Jacks on my C&C 40. They had worked out the geometry of pulling the lines forward, out of the way after the sail was dropped into the jacks, secured with sail ties and covered conventionally. I just got a 473 with a lazy bag and am trying to decide what I like better.