lazy jacks, dutchman, stack-pack, which one??

[Don12364]

Well My 376

came with a Dutchman and a UK Sails main. The slugs are 5'apart, so the sail droops 2' 6" off the boom each side and is directly in line of the helmsman at the wheel.The sail is now 10 seasons old and developed the marks after about three seasons.I ditched the Dutchman soon after.

 

[John Dodge]

How 'bout EZ Jacks?

I elected to go with the patented EZ Jacks system. It is like Lazy Jacks except that the system disconnects and is secured to small blocks on the mast - it is out of the way until you want to use it. I find it very helpful in dropping the main and it works great. Allows me to sail doublehanded in windy SF Bay with wife.

 

[George]

Joh Dodge

John do you have a link for this EZ Jack system or a website where it's sold.ThanksGeorge

 

[George7742]

Try This Website.....

This will answer some questions for you.

 

[Alchemist]

I ditched my Dutchman and went with EZJax

I prefer my new EZJax to my old Dutchman (by old, I only used it for the first two seasons on my new C-320). I bought a new main and installed EZJax (see the web site above). I think they are great. You only deploy them to drop the main, and you can deploy them from the cockpit.The people at EZJax were good to work with and seemed to know their product. (I bought it at the Annapolis boat show last fall)There is another manufacturer of a similar system to EZJax that I haven't seen, but might be worth looking at. (see link below).SteveAlchemist C-320 #909

 

[Moody Buccaneer]

Lazy Jacks used properly ...

Lazy jacks are for lowering sail. No one needs any help hoisting.They are setup prior to dropping the sail. They hold the sail above the boom until the sail can be flaked. Once the sail is flaked and tied, the jacks are cast off and secured at the mast before the sail cover goes on. The only way a batten can get hung up while the sail is coming down is is the lazy jacks were designed or installed wrong.For hoisting they can be used to keep the sail on top of the boom after the sail cover is removed. The leeward lazy jack is cast off *Prior* to hoisting. There is no way a batten can get caught if the leeward lazy jack is not setup. If your crew or auto pilot can't hold a course a few degrees off the wind while the sail is hoisted, cast off both lazyjacks before you hoist. If you are hoisting while off the wind ... no comment. Once the sail is at full hoist, the jacks are brought forward to the mast so they cannot chafe the sail.Permanent topping lifts serve only to add windage and chafe the roach of the main.The Dutchman system add multiple holes, weight, and chafe points in addition to requiring a permanent topping lift.Sails don't like being folded, they really don't like being folded the same way at on the same lines every time. A Dutchman system does all the wrong things to a sail.The single advantage to the Dutchman system is ease of use from the cockpit.What are we doing sailing boats if we are unable, too scared or too lazy to handle sail from the mast?I'm getting older and less spry each year, but if/when the time comes that I can't manage to go to the mast to handle the sails, its time to get a trawler.

 

[Cathy]

Thanks all!

Thanks all! We'll keep the existing lazy jacks for now & see how they do.