I am thinking of installing "Lazy Jacks" on my 1988 H30 to make mainsail control easier when flaking the main. I am considering either a Harken or Scheafer system. At this point I am leaning towards the Sheafer system due to the fact it can be moved forward when not used, and does not require modification to the sail cover. Has anyone had experience with either system or can offer advice Please send relpy to "d90man@aol.com" Thanks Gerald Davies SV Defender
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One experience.
I bought my lazyjacks from Sailnet. Now I do not find them on their website. They are the type that retract. But they use shockcord instead of a system of line and blocks like the Shaefer(Related Link). And they were much cheaper. You can also find instructions here on HOW for making them. And you will find a lot of support for the "stack pack" kind where the jacks lead the sail into a zip up pack. See the Doyle site. And for ten times the cost there is the Dutchman system. My experience with lazyjacks is that they keep the sail on the boom. There is no help with flaking. Maybe with an old main that is not stiff but I still think you would have to help it a lot. Mount the top as high as you can and as far back on the boom as you can. My boom is 13 feet and mast above the cabin about 45 feet. I mounted the top end about eight feet down from the top. Should have gone higher. The trick is to have that aft most jack catch as much of the sail as possible. If you find the shockcord style be sure to stretch it very tightly. Otherwise when you move it back to the mast it will be loose when you stow it. I never have the jax in place when I raise the mainsail so I do not have a batten problem. Better option? Furling boom.
I bought my lazyjacks from Sailnet. Now I do not find them on their website. They are the type that retract. But they use shockcord instead of a system of line and blocks like the Shaefer(Related Link). And they were much cheaper. You can also find instructions here on HOW for making them. And you will find a lot of support for the "stack pack" kind where the jacks lead the sail into a zip up pack. See the Doyle site. And for ten times the cost there is the Dutchman system. My experience with lazyjacks is that they keep the sail on the boom. There is no help with flaking. Maybe with an old main that is not stiff but I still think you would have to help it a lot. Mount the top as high as you can and as far back on the boom as you can. My boom is 13 feet and mast above the cabin about 45 feet. I mounted the top end about eight feet down from the top. Should have gone higher. The trick is to have that aft most jack catch as much of the sail as possible. If you find the shockcord style be sure to stretch it very tightly. Otherwise when you move it back to the mast it will be loose when you stow it. I never have the jax in place when I raise the mainsail so I do not have a batten problem. Better option? Furling boom.
DIY
Gerald, Mount a couple of Harken cheek blocks on the mast just below the second set of spreaders. Mount two small nylon cleats on the mast at the goose neck. Four small eyes spaced under the boom. Make up the lazy jack lines by trial and error to catch the sail. Anchor the bitter end at the nylon cleats with about 24" of elastic cord. The hole mess stores along the boom over the cleats and up to the cheek blocks. When lowering the main, unclip the line from the cleats pull up the jacks by hauling on the line that leads up through the cheek blocks and tie off to the cleats. Drop the main, tie off, then restore the jacks to the stored position along the boom and up the mast. Use your regular sail cover. It sounds messy but it works like a charm and will cost less than $50. I have had a set on my 88 30 for years. One little extra, if you put a plastic grommet in the extra hole at the base of the first spreaders then it can serve as a fairlead for the bitter end of the hauling line. It takes a little playing to get the lengths right but is well worth the effort. Good Saturday project.
Gerald, Mount a couple of Harken cheek blocks on the mast just below the second set of spreaders. Mount two small nylon cleats on the mast at the goose neck. Four small eyes spaced under the boom. Make up the lazy jack lines by trial and error to catch the sail. Anchor the bitter end at the nylon cleats with about 24" of elastic cord. The hole mess stores along the boom over the cleats and up to the cheek blocks. When lowering the main, unclip the line from the cleats pull up the jacks by hauling on the line that leads up through the cheek blocks and tie off to the cleats. Drop the main, tie off, then restore the jacks to the stored position along the boom and up the mast. Use your regular sail cover. It sounds messy but it works like a charm and will cost less than $50. I have had a set on my 88 30 for years. One little extra, if you put a plastic grommet in the extra hole at the base of the first spreaders then it can serve as a fairlead for the bitter end of the hauling line. It takes a little playing to get the lengths right but is well worth the effort. Good Saturday project.
I have a 28 with a Schaefer
I added the Schaffer Lazy Jack to my boat.I like it cause like you said there is no need to modify the sail cover.I just put the jack up as part of my pre sail routine and take it down after the main is squared away.I am happy with it.
I added the Schaffer Lazy Jack to my boat.I like it cause like you said there is no need to modify the sail cover.I just put the jack up as part of my pre sail routine and take it down after the main is squared away.I am happy with it.
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