Lazy jacks, are they worth it on a day sailer?

[dzl]

I'm working towards making my boat simpler to single hand. I usually sail with company, but it's inexperienced and it's just easier if I can handle the boat myself while the passengers just enjoy the boat. One thing I find gets me in trouble is the trying to tie the sail down once I drop it as I'm coming to a dock. I'm usually busy with other things and I'd rather not have to go up to tie it down immediately. Also, I'm adding a bimini so that's going to limit my access somewhat too. I only dry sail, or trailer sail.... is it worth the hassle of rigging lazy jacks if I have to deal with them every time I step the mast? Who runs them on a 22 and what's the best system? Can I get by with a two leg set up?

 

[Justin_NSA]

Any system that catches the mainsail will make life easier, especially single handing. I have the Dutchman system on the Hunter which I like. My Mac26S had a SailCradle from Sail Care. Take a look at that one for your (un)stepping concern.
http://www.sailcare.com/sailcradle.shtml

 

[CloudDiver]

My boat had the Harken Lazy Jack system when I un-stepped the mast (hasn't been back up since). I noticed that it did make the process a bit more of a pain. What would make it better is some method of quick release. I'd check out @StingySailor's article on making you own Lazy Jacks using shock-cord and try to modify the design to make it easy to detach.

 

[Leeward Rail]

Quick thoughts:

I personally don't see the point for such a small mainsail. The C22 has less sail area than the 18 foot daysailer catamaran that I used to sail.

I'd encourage your crew to learn. They will likely enjoy it more. I've had people who said they didn't want to learn, but in most cases, they were simply scared of it.
In my experience it is easier to teach on a bigger boat, with a wheel (or a small dinghy in light winds). That said, I have no problems letting a newbie handle tiller (after some basic rules are laid down). They steer and I deal with everything else.

That said.... lazy jacks on a trailer sailor are cheap enough that you try it and see if it fits your needs.
You never know when you may want to go out without crew, and a C22 is easily small enough to enable someone to set one up, and come up with methods for single handing.

This stuff is all about your own personal wants. Your boat... you sail it you way...


@$tingy Sailor has a set on his boat, and did a write up about it.
https://stingysailor.com/2014/07/04/trailerable-lazy-jacks-2/

Note the comments where he suggest what he would do differently
Hopefully he'll chime in with his experiences. He's the only person I know that has used them on a small boat.

 

[Benny17441]

It depends in larger boats with heavy mainsails lazy jacks may be a necessity but I would never consider them in a boat under 30'. While they can help to handle the weight and bulkiness of a large sail they are a PITA to operate. It is not that they are difficult it is just that they can annoy the heck out of you when doing simple things like raising the mainsail. The boat has to be pointed into the wind so that the sail can be raised through a narrow slot without snagging the battens, up, down, turn, up ,down, hold, adjust, up, down, wait, up, finally etc. If you are looking for simplicity in a Cat 22' stay away from them.

 

[Roland5048]

We have lazy jacks on the 32' in the charter company I work for. The sail is not heavy enough to fall all the way down on it's own and we end up having to go forward and pull it down anyway. It also becomes a pain to put a sail cover on unless you can bring the lines to the mast after dropping the main. This may not be an issue for you if you always put it back on the trailer afterwards. Another method I use on my boat without lazy jacks is to heave to. Get the main behind the jib to blanket it, let the boom out til the main luffs, drop the main, pull the boom tight and, while still hove to, go furl your main. Even with my full battened main it works well.

 

[SailormanDan]

I did not have lazyjacks on my C22, but have added a Sailpack on my H27. Biggest thing I like about the lazyjack system is that when you drop the mainsail, the cloth doesn't lay all over the deck or blow in the wind and block your view. Putting the sail away is much easier then because it's already gathered together for you. The sailpack takes it a step further and you just zip the cover shut on top after it's all in and your done. Benny has a point about having to come into the wind and watch that you don't catch the sail (battens) in the lazyjacks when you haul it up, but I've learned to work around that and feel the convenience and safety of it all is worth the hassle.

 

[Jacktar]

Try the centipede bungee system from sail rite, it makes it super easy to drop the sail and snap 1 or two of the bungee loops on the sail to capture it. Later you can snap on the rest and there are no sail ties to chase down or drop. see pix

 

[ilance]

Jacktar: I really like the look of that system. Back before bungees, I built one almost the same for our 42' ketch's main.....just simple lines and toggles. Did the job. Makes your boat look tidy!

 

[Jacktar]

Yep really quick way to control the sail and does not interfere with anything including the backstay, topping lift boom vang and main sheet.