Speaker blocks for stack pack install questions

Adrock1.8t

Adrock1.8t

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Jul 22, 2016
4
Hunter 34 East harbor, Marblehead
Hey all, I am having Doyle stack packs and lazy Jack's installed today. They have already installed the blocks on the spreaders and I have questions/concerns as to how they were installed. They chose to use blocks that attach with line then wrapped the line with tape. Would not have even registered in my mind to do it that way. Not to say it won't work but I would have found a way to either bolt or rivet the blocks. If I'm way off base here please let me know as I plan on talking to the gentleman installed the rest of the system today.
 

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Ron20324

Ron20324

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Jan 22, 2008
8,050
Beneteau 323 Annapolis MD
My guess would be he did not want to risk liability of a future spreader failure due to holes in it.
 
agprice22

agprice22

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Aug 3, 2012
2,542
Performance Cruising Telstar 28 302 Watkins Glen
I would sail it for a season and see how it runs. You can make adjustments, and then you can install the blocks you want. That tape won't last forever up there!
 
V

vhoisington

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Mar 13, 2011
175
Islander Freeport 41 Longmont
Having just installed 2 stack packs on my Islander ketch, I tend to agree that that is not a permanent installation. You are paying them to install this right, not hastily or sloppily. It appears that your mast is down so there really isn't any reason to not install properly with rivets.

A couple of other points I'd check on, the attachment point seems to be very far out on the spreaders. I realize you want some separation (although mine are attached to the mast), you don't want them so far out that they don't provide the proper guidance to the sail. Also, I assume those are the upper spreaders not the lower, lazy jacks work best when installed about 2/3 up the mast.

Good luck
 
pateco

pateco

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Aug 12, 2014
2,207
Hunter 31 (1983) Pompano Beach FL
Nope, fix it before you put the mast up. Most lazy jacks/packs that I have seen including mine are attached to the mast above the first spreader. Having them attached away from the mast out on the spreader is going to cause issues as you travel the boom in and out since one side will end up shorter than the other because they are not centered on the mast pivot point.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,130
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Take a look at how other lazy jacks are built. Spreaders are not the way to do it. Show them. Good luck.
 
Justin_NSA

Justin_NSA

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Jul 7, 2004
8,498
Hunter 30T Cheney, KS
I think the reason you see them on the spreaders is to minimize snagging the battens when raising the sail. I had that problem on my Mac's mast mounted lazyjacks. I have a Dutchman system on the Hunter.
Spreader mounting should be okay but tape is just not cool. It does give you a chance to try it out but permanently attaching them later won't be easy. Are they spread out enough on the boom to catch your sail? Now you get to modify your sailcover.
 
DougM

DougM

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Jul 24, 2005
2,242
Beneteau 323 Manistee, MI
That is a poor setup in my opinion.
The blocks on my boat are installed on the mast well above the spreaders. There are ferrules installed in the spreaders. The lazy jack lines are led up through the spreaders, then through the blocks attached to the mast. The lines then go down the sides of the mast and are cleated just below the boom. The system works well, and has for 10 seasons.
 
Tally Ho

Tally Ho

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Jan 7, 2011
5,851
Oday 322 East Chicago, IN
I installed a MacPack on my O'Day 322 and those blocks were installed on the mast, above the spreaders. I cannot remember if Mack instructions gave me a specific height or just "above the spreaders".

The blocks were installed by drilling and tapping for screws.

The line and tape, as well as location does not look right to me.

Do you have the Stack Pack instructions ?

As someone just taught me, RTFM.

Good luck, I love my Mack Pack.

Greg
 
Ron20324

Ron20324

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Jan 22, 2008
8,050
Beneteau 323 Annapolis MD
Look at your sail when properly flaked left-right-left, etc.. How wide are the lower/wider flakes? If your LJs are not somewhere near that wide, then your sail may not drop fully. My LJs are like Doug's(non-stackpac), and there is not enough weight in the upper sail to allow it to overcome the lower part unless the lower is down and flaked flat- and it won't drop on it's own. Someone always has to be in front of the mast to pull down and flake the upper half of the main. I'm thinking of a downhaul.
 
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