We have a 1999 Hunter 31' boat. We have NEVER been able to get the main sail all the way up. It stops about 8 to 6 inches from the top. Our Dealer has not been able to figure it out. One problem is that the battens of the sail get stuck in the lazy jack as we raise the sail. We need three people to put the sail up. One to steer the boat, one to crank the winch and someone, (Me) to stand on the top of the boat to keep the battens from getting caught up in the lazy jack. This stops the momentum of the person trying to raise this huge sail.. We are considering getting rid of the lazy jack and installing a rigid boom vane in it's place. Has anyone had this problem and/or removed the lazy jack?
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
B
Bob
My Experience
I added lazy jacks to my 86 H34. At first, I hated them as I had the same problems you are having. I then added a couple of clips at the mast near the boom so that I keep them against the mast and boom unless I am actually lowering the sale. This has made my life much easier for no more batten hang ups and also I can raise the sails without being directly into the wind. When I am ready to lower the sails, I simply release the jacks from the clips and tighen them into their normal place.
I added lazy jacks to my 86 H34. At first, I hated them as I had the same problems you are having. I then added a couple of clips at the mast near the boom so that I keep them against the mast and boom unless I am actually lowering the sale. This has made my life much easier for no more batten hang ups and also I can raise the sails without being directly into the wind. When I am ready to lower the sails, I simply release the jacks from the clips and tighen them into their normal place.
G
Geoff in Ann Arbor
I've thought about it.
Nancy, On our boat we've found that loosening the lazy jacks quite a bit helps. You have to loosen them anyway so as not to affect the set of the sail, so we loosen before hoisting. Next thing is to be sure that you are dead to wind. I use the engine and autopilot to ensure this. Next, have the boom hoisted with the topping lift above horizontal. This helps take some of the batten tension off the luff of the sail so that it slides easier up the track. You can take a lot of stress off the person at the winch by simply having the person at the mast pull down on the halyard as it exits the mast, while the winch person is cranking. On my 33.5 I think I could actually get the entire sail up from here except for maybe the last foot or so. Only the top two battens on mine are such that they might foul the lazy jacks. The bottom two are beyond that point on the leach. So we only have to worry about the first third or so of the sail. I'm not sure about similarities between your model and ours so I hope this stuff helps you in general. Best of luck.
Nancy, On our boat we've found that loosening the lazy jacks quite a bit helps. You have to loosen them anyway so as not to affect the set of the sail, so we loosen before hoisting. Next thing is to be sure that you are dead to wind. I use the engine and autopilot to ensure this. Next, have the boom hoisted with the topping lift above horizontal. This helps take some of the batten tension off the luff of the sail so that it slides easier up the track. You can take a lot of stress off the person at the winch by simply having the person at the mast pull down on the halyard as it exits the mast, while the winch person is cranking. On my 33.5 I think I could actually get the entire sail up from here except for maybe the last foot or so. Only the top two battens on mine are such that they might foul the lazy jacks. The bottom two are beyond that point on the leach. So we only have to worry about the first third or so of the sail. I'm not sure about similarities between your model and ours so I hope this stuff helps you in general. Best of luck.
T
Tom Payne
Lazy Jacks
Nancy, I agree with Geoff. 1.) Lossen the lazy jacks before raising the sail 2.) Make Sure you are directly into the wind before raising the sail. 3.) When ready to raise, Have the helmsman put you straight into the wind. Have someone at the mast ready to pull the Halyard down. Have someone in the cockpit ready to pull the excess halyard into the cockpit. Make sure both the person at the mast and the person in the cockpit watch to make sure the first couple of battens do not get caught. The helsman's job is to keep her straight into the wind. The person at the mast should be able to pull it almost to the top, then the person in the cockpit wrapps the winch and tightens her up. Fall off and enjoy!!! FYI, I have made my lazy jacks retractable, but never retract them due to the slapping sound made on the mast. I also can not imagine not having the lazy jacks, as my sail would fall all over the cabin top and cockpit. I have a buddy who has, I think it's called a dutchman. It looks pretty interesting, but I do not like the idea (cost) of lines going through my sail.
Nancy, I agree with Geoff. 1.) Lossen the lazy jacks before raising the sail 2.) Make Sure you are directly into the wind before raising the sail. 3.) When ready to raise, Have the helmsman put you straight into the wind. Have someone at the mast ready to pull the Halyard down. Have someone in the cockpit ready to pull the excess halyard into the cockpit. Make sure both the person at the mast and the person in the cockpit watch to make sure the first couple of battens do not get caught. The helsman's job is to keep her straight into the wind. The person at the mast should be able to pull it almost to the top, then the person in the cockpit wrapps the winch and tightens her up. Fall off and enjoy!!! FYI, I have made my lazy jacks retractable, but never retract them due to the slapping sound made on the mast. I also can not imagine not having the lazy jacks, as my sail would fall all over the cabin top and cockpit. I have a buddy who has, I think it's called a dutchman. It looks pretty interesting, but I do not like the idea (cost) of lines going through my sail.
T
Tom Payne
One more thing
Regarding your sail lifting all the way to the top. I have a 32 Vision. My sail does the same as yours, It stops 6 inches from the top. I have learned to except it, due to the fact I chaffed my halyard trying to make it raise to the top. That was another $150.00 repair. Once again, Good Luck and Happy Sailing!!!!
Regarding your sail lifting all the way to the top. I have a 32 Vision. My sail does the same as yours, It stops 6 inches from the top. I have learned to except it, due to the fact I chaffed my halyard trying to make it raise to the top. That was another $150.00 repair. Once again, Good Luck and Happy Sailing!!!!
W
William Berson
try dutchman
Had exactly the same experience with the same boat - which was exacerbated by a full bimini, which makes it awkward to reach the boom undersail and straighten out things -- got so desperate I looked into retrofitting roller furling main, which was many $Thosands. After much angst, decided to retrofit a dutchman system which with minor sail work and the rig was way under $1,000. Totally solved the problem, sail now goes up and down no problem, when coming down falls neatly, more or less on the boom and stays out of the way till a convenient time to stow. I recommend the dutchman.
Had exactly the same experience with the same boat - which was exacerbated by a full bimini, which makes it awkward to reach the boom undersail and straighten out things -- got so desperate I looked into retrofitting roller furling main, which was many $Thosands. After much angst, decided to retrofit a dutchman system which with minor sail work and the rig was way under $1,000. Totally solved the problem, sail now goes up and down no problem, when coming down falls neatly, more or less on the boom and stays out of the way till a convenient time to stow. I recommend the dutchman.
S
Steve O.
rigid boom?
I'm not sure how a rigid boom vang will help you handle the sail coming down. They are nice and you could do away with your topping lift, but the function of lazy jacks is to help flake the sail, not hold up the boom. Try loosening the jacks as suggested.
I'm not sure how a rigid boom vang will help you handle the sail coming down. They are nice and you could do away with your topping lift, but the function of lazy jacks is to help flake the sail, not hold up the boom. Try loosening the jacks as suggested.
T
Tom
release main sheet
I have lazy jacks as well and originally had the same problem. I have learned to make sure I am dead into the wind as previously stated and also insure my main sheet is released a bit so the boom can swing with wind shifts as I raise the sail. This of course also insures that the boom will lift as the sail reaches the top of the mast and allow the sail to go all the way up.
I have lazy jacks as well and originally had the same problem. I have learned to make sure I am dead into the wind as previously stated and also insure my main sheet is released a bit so the boom can swing with wind shifts as I raise the sail. This of course also insures that the boom will lift as the sail reaches the top of the mast and allow the sail to go all the way up.
T
Tom M.
You might check
the loop splice in the headboard shackle end of the main halyard. On my boat, the splice was too thick and too stiff to go over the sheeve in the top of the mast. Therefore I could not raise the sail the last approx. 6" or so. What I did was cut off the loop splice to get back to the "normal" line dimensions, and then just tied the headboard shackle to the halyard using some knot that I can't remember the name of right now (I could find out if anyone is interested). That solved my problem, sail goes right to the top now. Another REAL good thing I did was to lubricate the mast sail track with three coats of that McLube Sailcote lubricant, just sprayed it in there the length of the track three separate times about an hour apart, MAJOR difference, I can raise my sail completely by hand now. Oh, I love my retractable lazy jacks! -Tom
the loop splice in the headboard shackle end of the main halyard. On my boat, the splice was too thick and too stiff to go over the sheeve in the top of the mast. Therefore I could not raise the sail the last approx. 6" or so. What I did was cut off the loop splice to get back to the "normal" line dimensions, and then just tied the headboard shackle to the halyard using some knot that I can't remember the name of right now (I could find out if anyone is interested). That solved my problem, sail goes right to the top now. Another REAL good thing I did was to lubricate the mast sail track with three coats of that McLube Sailcote lubricant, just sprayed it in there the length of the track three separate times about an hour apart, MAJOR difference, I can raise my sail completely by hand now. Oh, I love my retractable lazy jacks! -Tom
K
Ken Osborne
More Lazy Jacks
I had a 1995 29.5 with lazy jacks and got very comfortable with them once I got used to them. All the suggestions listed will help. I found the key to the lazy jacks is once the first batten clears the rear jacks, they arn't a factor any more as long as you keep the boat into the wind. You would do this raising any sail. I only had to raise the sail about three feet off the boom to get that first batten clear. Then you just raise the sail as you would any sail without regard to the jacks. All the other battens were long enough so that they just followed the sail up as it's hoisted. Hope this helps. ken
I had a 1995 29.5 with lazy jacks and got very comfortable with them once I got used to them. All the suggestions listed will help. I found the key to the lazy jacks is once the first batten clears the rear jacks, they arn't a factor any more as long as you keep the boat into the wind. You would do this raising any sail. I only had to raise the sail about three feet off the boom to get that first batten clear. Then you just raise the sail as you would any sail without regard to the jacks. All the other battens were long enough so that they just followed the sail up as it's hoisted. Hope this helps. ken
W
Wizard
J
J Stage
A bungee cord
Just loosen the lazy jacks and tie to mast with bungee cord. I do it before leaving the dock. Just make sure it is behind all the rigging lines & the sail is not caught. Watch that you don't tie the reefing lines around the lazy jacks also. Release the bungee cord and pull the lazy jacks tight before lowering the sail. Joan
Just loosen the lazy jacks and tie to mast with bungee cord. I do it before leaving the dock. Just make sure it is behind all the rigging lines & the sail is not caught. Watch that you don't tie the reefing lines around the lazy jacks also. Release the bungee cord and pull the lazy jacks tight before lowering the sail. Joan
J
Jim A
I have this problem too!
I just let the boat rock back and forth as I pull up the sail. I can do it myself, but someone steering the boat makes it easier. I have to watch it go up. I winch it up so I can easily stop and free the sail if it get stuck in the lasy jacks. You ca also let all the rope out and tie the jacks foward to the mast. I think thats too much trouble! Jim H28...
I just let the boat rock back and forth as I pull up the sail. I can do it myself, but someone steering the boat makes it easier. I have to watch it go up. I winch it up so I can easily stop and free the sail if it get stuck in the lasy jacks. You ca also let all the rope out and tie the jacks foward to the mast. I think thats too much trouble! Jim H28...
D
Doug Washburn
Try E-Z Jack
I put E-Z Jacks on my Hunter 31 and find them to be much more sensible vis a vis problems as you have presented. The E-Z Jack system is easily retracted as you are raising the main and stays out of the way while you are under sail. It has been about a year since I was in contact with them but if you have any trouble reaching them, I may be able to get their contact information from my records. doug.washburn@sas.com
I put E-Z Jacks on my Hunter 31 and find them to be much more sensible vis a vis problems as you have presented. The E-Z Jack system is easily retracted as you are raising the main and stays out of the way while you are under sail. It has been about a year since I was in contact with them but if you have any trouble reaching them, I may be able to get their contact information from my records. doug.washburn@sas.com
M
Miller
ezjax.com
I think they have a great, affordable solution compared to "permanent" ez jacks. I installed mine in 1999 on my H30 and love them. They cost less than Harken or Schaffer(sp). Very helpful sales people too. -Doug s/vBrendaGail
I think they have a great, affordable solution compared to "permanent" ez jacks. I installed mine in 1999 on my H30 and love them. They cost less than Harken or Schaffer(sp). Very helpful sales people too. -Doug s/vBrendaGail
R
Rob Anderson
Loosen the MAIN SHEET
We just took delivery of a new H 306 and we had the same problem of not being able to raise the Mainsail the last foot or so. Found out from dealer that Main sheet has to be loose or sail will not raise all the way. This was not the case with our old boat. I know this was mentioned here earlier but felt it is the most important issue here ie not getting the mainsail all the way up. You will get accustomed to dealing with the lazy jacks and I see you have a wealth of response here rgarding that.
We just took delivery of a new H 306 and we had the same problem of not being able to raise the Mainsail the last foot or so. Found out from dealer that Main sheet has to be loose or sail will not raise all the way. This was not the case with our old boat. I know this was mentioned here earlier but felt it is the most important issue here ie not getting the mainsail all the way up. You will get accustomed to dealing with the lazy jacks and I see you have a wealth of response here rgarding that.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.