lazy jacks

[garethreeves]

My 2000 320 has the lazy jacks attached to the mast, but I noticed in the manual last night that the they should attach to the spreaders. Also, in the manual the part that attaches to the spreaders should be wire and mine are the same line that runs through the loop and comes down to the boom. I think they are cleated onto the mast but will need to goto the boat to check.

Can I move them to the spreaders? Should I replace with wire? They are a pain in the butt at the moment and I would love to clean them up.

Also, the battens within the mainsail cover are missing. Is there anything special about them? I was thinking about just replacing with some pvc piping.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Gareth

 

[Benny17441]

Oh you have also experienced the advantages of having lazy jacks, As far as I'm concerned thay are a PTA and would not have them were not for the weight of the main sail with that large roach. I cringe everytime I hear "I'm thinking of installing lazy jacks....." But enough on that. Ours are attached to the top spreaders but by line and not wire to an eyelid or "U" bolt. I guess they could have been spread farther apart to further open up the channel but since they all tapper down to the boom it may not make much difference. I think that line is kinder on the sail than wire would be but I don't proffess to know which is best. I'm enclosing a picture for your reference. Pvc pipes would do fine as battens for the covers.

 

[garethreeves]

Thanks - that looks like exactly what I was thinking.

I have sailed hunters with in mast furling as we as this one with lazy jacks. I have also sailed several boats from the moorings in the BVI with lazy jacks and an open sail bag. The moorings boats attach the lazy jacks to the sail bag/pack which holds it open and out to the sides. I like the system finding it easy drop and reef the main and only mildly tricky to raise. I wouldn't want to leave the pack open 24/7 on my boat though, so a pack like that, but with flaps and a zipper to cover up the sail would be nice and convenient. Probably not great for airflow around the boom, but pretty practical in every other sense.

Has anyone seen a pack like this before? I don't like the way that the sail bag just droops down and requires securing under the boom on my 320.

I haven't even seen a dutchman or some of the integrated mains and packs so I can't comment on those.

I have had as many problems with in mast furling as I have had on nicely configured lazy jack boats but probably because they were fractional share boats and I didn't like the way that others were putting the main away (not tightly furled enough).

I will try switching the jacks to the spreaders. Thanks Benny17411!

Gareth

 

[Steve Dion]

You may want to consider making the retractable so they DO NOT interfer with the raising of the main. If you can pull them forward prior to raising the sail you will have yourself a lot of grief.

You may also wanto to consider something like a Stack Pack or Mack Pack to incorporate the "Jax" into a sail cover.

 

[garethreeves]

Retractable, as in, move them forward to the mast? so that they don't interfere with the raise?

They run through grommets in the sail bag at the moment but I guess they don't have to. then it would be easy to uncleat them and move them forward.

 

[Steve Dion]

I think that Mack Pack has this ability (retractable) and they are reasonably priced (under $800).

 

[Ken13559]

gareth, mine comes with pvc pipe for sailbag batten. I changed it to light aluminium tube, those retractable type used for floor mop. Just buy couple of them and join and cut to length. You can then extend or retract to the actual length required. Its better than pvc tube as it is always stiff and straight. PVC tube gets wobbly crooked when under hot sun.
As for the sailbag hanging under the boom, I cut 4 small (3" inch) openings on the sailbag at the where the aluminium tube is and cable tie 4 D-rings. The lazy jack is then ran through the rings before entering the sailbag. I then tie the Lazy jack to the D-rings to hold up the sailbag. If ever I want more sail area at foot, I can untie the knot at D-ring and let the bag slide down (but still with the Lazy jack lines around the bag) and secure it just below the boom as per original design. So I've 2 options here. Another mod is to put Snap Buttons on the velcro of the bag and the the web. The orignal velcro is useless.

 

[garethreeves]

Ken13559 - This is exactly the sort of thing that I was thinking about doing. Thanks for the pics.

It looks like you hitched the lazy jack line to the dring and then continued the line through the bag and cleated it on the boom as usual. Is that right?

Is this the sort of mop handle you used for the battens? http://tinyurl.com/7qpxl9e

Thanks again.

 

[Ken13559]

Gareth, Yes the lazy jack lines continue on through the Sailbag. That way you have the option to slacken the lazy jack still have the bag held within the lines. And Yes that is the mop handle I use.