I will be installing a lazy jack system (my own design) on a '84 27' Hunter. I will be installing cheek blocks on either side of the mast just below the spreader. Do I need to worry about the screws interfering with the halyards and electrical or should I use pop rivets to mount. Thanks
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If you can, give yourself some extra room
Tom, And instead of mounting to the mast, mount to the spreader to create a slightly larger slot. I just had a converted to UK lazy cradle from the Dutchman, and the rigger that designed the setup said that the most common reason sails hang up on the lazy jack lines is the size of the slot. Mine are mounted on the lower spreaders, about 12"-15" from the mast and forward. This is on a Legend 37, so check that the spreader will be high enough to provide adequate coverage. Cheers, Brice s/v Maji Tembo
Tom, And instead of mounting to the mast, mount to the spreader to create a slightly larger slot. I just had a converted to UK lazy cradle from the Dutchman, and the rigger that designed the setup said that the most common reason sails hang up on the lazy jack lines is the size of the slot. Mine are mounted on the lower spreaders, about 12"-15" from the mast and forward. This is on a Legend 37, so check that the spreader will be high enough to provide adequate coverage. Cheers, Brice s/v Maji Tembo
Share your design
We were planning on installing either the Harken or Schaefer Lazy Jack kit. From someone who has these systems, what do you like about your system? Tom, would you mind sharing the plans for your design?
We were planning on installing either the Harken or Schaefer Lazy Jack kit. From someone who has these systems, what do you like about your system? Tom, would you mind sharing the plans for your design?
Brice is right
My sail battens would get hung up everytime i raised my main. Then I read on the internet somewhere about hanging the lazy jacks from the spreaders about 12" on both sides of the mast. I used Eye Bolts. I made my splice through the eye and it worked just fine. That was on my MacGregor 25. When I made lazy jacks for my Catalina 25 and later on for my Catalina 30, I took the lines going through the eyea and joined them in front of the mast. Then I attached another line to them (essentially, making a "Y") and led this down to the boom and to the end of the boom. This way I could tighten the lazy jacks for the main to fall into it and loosen it at the dock so I could put on the sail cover. Tony B
My sail battens would get hung up everytime i raised my main. Then I read on the internet somewhere about hanging the lazy jacks from the spreaders about 12" on both sides of the mast. I used Eye Bolts. I made my splice through the eye and it worked just fine. That was on my MacGregor 25. When I made lazy jacks for my Catalina 25 and later on for my Catalina 30, I took the lines going through the eyea and joined them in front of the mast. Then I attached another line to them (essentially, making a "Y") and led this down to the boom and to the end of the boom. This way I could tighten the lazy jacks for the main to fall into it and loosen it at the dock so I could put on the sail cover. Tony B
Mine are mounted a foot and a half outside the mast
so the battens don't hang up, but they do half the time anyway. At least until I started slackening them completely, and using a short bungee to keep them tight to the mast. No worries. But it is just one more thing to do to prep the boat, both ways.
so the battens don't hang up, but they do half the time anyway. At least until I started slackening them completely, and using a short bungee to keep them tight to the mast. No worries. But it is just one more thing to do to prep the boat, both ways.
Tom, you don't need the agravation.
An h27 has a high aspect main which translates to a tall sail on a short boom resulting in a very light rag. Lazy Jacks require frequent adjustments to allow raising, dropping or trimming the mainsail. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to raise a mainsail when sailing solo and having the battens catch on them. They offer a good compromise for bigger boats with heavy mainsails but when not needed I would stay away from them. Consider a more useful improvement like a bow roller to hang the anchor.
An h27 has a high aspect main which translates to a tall sail on a short boom resulting in a very light rag. Lazy Jacks require frequent adjustments to allow raising, dropping or trimming the mainsail. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to raise a mainsail when sailing solo and having the battens catch on them. They offer a good compromise for bigger boats with heavy mainsails but when not needed I would stay away from them. Consider a more useful improvement like a bow roller to hang the anchor.
Very Important when solo sailing
Everyones sailing experiences are different. I find lazy jacks extremely important when solo sailing. Especially on a boat like an H27. If its a little bumpy out there, without lazy jacks, you will have to desert the wheel/tiller and gather up the sail or lose your view of whats ahead. This is definately a safety issue. Along with the lazy jacks, you should also install a downhaul to pull your main down while still in the cockpit. With lazy jacks. head into the wind, release main halyard. Pull on downhaul and main will fall into the lazy jacks. If its not windy, there is nothing else to do until you dock or anchor. If there is a bit of wind, you only have to get on the coach roof to make one quick tie to keep main in the lazy jacks. Adjustments required: Tighten lazy jacks prior to dropping main. Once at dock/anchor and main is secured, loosed jazy jack line to put on sail cover. Nothing to do when you raise main because lazy jacks are already loose.Only one line required and that should be at the end of your boom, right there in the cockpit with you. If its anymore trouble than this, you either didnt suspend the lazy jacks from the spreaders or you cant steer into the wind. I am big fan of lazy jacks. Tony B
Everyones sailing experiences are different. I find lazy jacks extremely important when solo sailing. Especially on a boat like an H27. If its a little bumpy out there, without lazy jacks, you will have to desert the wheel/tiller and gather up the sail or lose your view of whats ahead. This is definately a safety issue. Along with the lazy jacks, you should also install a downhaul to pull your main down while still in the cockpit. With lazy jacks. head into the wind, release main halyard. Pull on downhaul and main will fall into the lazy jacks. If its not windy, there is nothing else to do until you dock or anchor. If there is a bit of wind, you only have to get on the coach roof to make one quick tie to keep main in the lazy jacks. Adjustments required: Tighten lazy jacks prior to dropping main. Once at dock/anchor and main is secured, loosed jazy jack line to put on sail cover. Nothing to do when you raise main because lazy jacks are already loose.Only one line required and that should be at the end of your boom, right there in the cockpit with you. If its anymore trouble than this, you either didnt suspend the lazy jacks from the spreaders or you cant steer into the wind. I am big fan of lazy jacks. Tony B
When I put on the sail cover
I loosen the lazy jacks and tie them back so they won't interfear with the sail going up next time I go out, after I put the sail up I tighten the lazy jacks so there ready when I drop the sail. Very simple I'm going to route the lasy jack line to the cockpit and install shock cord to keep tension so I do'nt have to leave the cockpit
I loosen the lazy jacks and tie them back so they won't interfear with the sail going up next time I go out, after I put the sail up I tighten the lazy jacks so there ready when I drop the sail. Very simple I'm going to route the lasy jack line to the cockpit and install shock cord to keep tension so I do'nt have to leave the cockpit
First to address the original question. Using machine screws that are just long enough to penetrate the mast after installing any gear will eliminate any possible problem with halyards. Sheet metal screws that are too long could cause a problem but machine screws don't have a sharp pointed end to worry about. As to the use of lazy jacks. Their use is to make dropping sail on the boom a neat and orderly arrangement without the need for crew. Therefore, lazy jacks are only deployed when the main is ready to drop. After the main is flaked and tied to the boom the lazy jacks should be slackened and stowed along the line of the mast and boom. The rams horns at the goose-neck are a convenient locking point. The sail cover can then be installed without being impeded by the lazy jacks that are now out of the way. When it is time to raise sail, the cover and ties are removed and the main raised with no lazy jacks in place to foul the sail.
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