Lazy Jack Flaking With a New, Heavy Mainsail

[Dan]

What's the best way to "break in" a new sail? I have lazy jacks and a brand new heavy dacron sail that refuses to go down gently. I have fantasies of seeing the sail fall naturally into an orderly, symmetrical pile on the boom that would require a minor straightening before I effortlessly zip it up and open a cold one. Once again, my fantasies and real life are far apart.Would tying the main down -- to force it to crease in a pattern -- help? Is there anything I can apply to the sail to help it along (similar to how I used to oil a new baseball glove to break it in)?It takes me forever to get it right (the bimini and center cockpit arrangement make it that much harder to get to). Being vertically challenged doesn't help.Of course, my major concern is that I want to be able to drop sail quickly and secure it in case a real blow comes up fast.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Just last week...

see: http://www.sailboatowners.com/forums/pviewall.tpl?&fno=21&uid=73200280089&sku=2006303152749.86Even with a bimini and doger, if you pull the boom to one side after you drop the main you should have better access.Some have tried main downhauls. It depends on what you have for luff connections: slides, slugs, track, etc.

 

[Dan]

thanks

This is helpful. Much appreciated

 

[Steve Dion]

what you are asking for is call...........

Dan:What you are asking for is called a "Dutchman". We had this setup on our H'31 and loved it. I have Lazy Jerks now and hate them. I don't see that there is any way around the problem with the system.I would try flaking it everytime you use the sail and only hope that it will some day be ready to flake itself.

 

[Moody Buccaneer]

Adjust the lazy jacks ...

If the lazy jacks are too tight they will keep the sail from coming down quickly. Too loose and the sail falls off the top of the boom. somewhere in-between is "just right" and the sail will come down nicely.When you are not in a "I want that sail down NOW!" situation, guide the luff of the sail into a neat, loose, accordion fold ans you lower it. Once the boat is secure, loosen the lazy jacks a bit more and tidy the sail without creasing it. Secure the sail with your sail ties, retract the lazy jacks, and put the cover on. If you fold the luff the same way each time the sail will develop a "memory" and reduce the amount of time it takes to tidy it up.

 

[sailortonyb Allied Mis]

Steve is right

With lazy jacks, there is no way around the problem. The main function of the lazy jacks is to contain your sail and keep it from flopping and flogging all over the deck. When you get back to the dock, then you flake it just as you normally would. I never used the Dutchman Syste, but I understand that it works great.I'm not sure, but I think that if you dropped your sail and it fell into a nice neat flaked pile, it is probably worn out.

 

[Bob V]

Another vote for Dutchman system

My C350 came with a Dutchman system and now that I have it adjusted just right, it works great. I find that I need to have the wind just slightly off center and I can let the sail freefall onto the boom almost neat enough to tie off and cover. I don't even need to put on the sail ties until I get back to the dock. It did not work quite this well at first until the sail developed a bit of memory. I think if more people knew how well this system worked there would not be so many roller furling mainsails around. I have heard that the furling mains can be difficult to roll up if the wind is over 20 knots, just when you need them the most.

 

[Vern]

Easy flaking

I read somewhere else on this site that it's not a good idea to develop a "memory" when flaking the main. I don't know whether that's true.I had lazy jacks installed on my new boat after about 6 times out on very short shakedown trips. The sail was still very stiff. I simply pull gently on the leech of the main as I ease the main halyard. It settles in and flakes very nicely. I put a sail tie around the boom and flaked sail at the aft end of the boom to hold it in place until I'm in my slip. That way if a puff of wind sneaks under the sail, the tie prohibits deployment.Works wonderfully.