The right lazy jacks for my H34

[zds]

My 1983 Hunter 34 needs lazy jacks. Something that I can stow below the reefing hooks when not in use, and that will fit under the mainsail cover. I figure it will run through blocks on the spreaders.

Someone must have a similar system that you love. Will you share the details and some pictures? I will do the install myself.

Thanks.

 

[YVRguy]

I have a Hunter 34 that also lacks lazy jacks. I made a similar enquiry and was told by many that they can be a pain. Apparently the main can get stuck on them when being raised if it's flapping too much or being raised slightly off the wind.

I thought they were a must because all the boats I'd previously had were equipped with them. But I had someone teach me the proper way to flake a sail and frankly it's no big deal now. Just my two cents...

 

[zds]

That's why I want something that I can stow below the reefing hooks when not in use. . .

Flaking the sail isn't the problem. It's about keeping it from becoming a mess on the deck when shorthanded in unfavorable conditions.

 

[Nom De Guerre]

I had no lazy jacks on my c22. I do have lazy jacks on my h28.5. I prefer the latter, as I find them helpful while single-handing in challenging conditions.

I can upload a picture of the rigging diagram sheet that came with them if you like, it should generally apply. Also, I can stow them forward under the reefing hooks while underway.

 

[Richard Bryer]

I installed lazy jacks on my H34 a few years ago. They are a fairly simple set with only one pulley and only two lines under and on each side. Yes you do have to take care while raising the main. I do find them really useful when dropping the sail in breezy conditions.

 

[davjonLegend]

An alternative is to use the Dutchman system. I have had boats with both and can say both work reasonably well -- both have pros and cons. Rather than repeating what others have said, here is a link to a list of those pros and cons:

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/gear-maintenance-articles/19948-dutchman-vs-lazy-jacks-pros-cons.html

 

[Old Skool Neil]

If you are afflicted with do-it-yourself-itis (I am), making your own lazy jack system is pretty easy. Here is a drawing and two pictures of mine, you'll probably have to rotate the drawing after it's opened. It is comprised of 2 spreader blocks, 2 boom cheek blocks, 2 boom cleats, 4 homemade plastic rings (common cutting board plastic is ideal) and 3/16" line. I bet I have less than $60 invested.

Making it collapsible to the mast eliminates mainsail raising difficulties. Mine works great.

 

[rardiH36]

Small stainless steel o-rings also do fine rather than blocks.

I have three lazy jack down lines to my boom. I just leave the setting always the same so the the lazy jacks drape with the right amount of slack to accommodate the sail cover. Rather than tuck the lines away under the reefing hook when sailing, as part of my halyard attachment to the mainsail routine, I use a bunge cord on each side attached at the mast to hook the middle lazy jack line and pull it forward. This also pulls the aft most lazy jack forward which reduces the tendency for the battens to get caught when raising the main. But still allows the lazy jacks to do their thing to keep the sail organized on the boom both up and down. Since the bunge cords are elastic, the lazy jacks yield to the sail shape to the sail when up. At the end of the day, after the sail ties have secured the sail on the boom, I simply unhook the bunge cords from the middle lazy jack line and put on the sail cover without needing to adjust the lazy jack slack.

 

[Hunter voyager]

I used 4mm dia cord.
Each side has one end attached at the bottom of the mast and goes up to a pulley on the burgee loops on the lower cross tree, then down and made off to a loop of cord which is made off again to make 4 ends that attach to the boom sail cars with a bowline I spaced the attachment points about equal along the length with the last one about 3 foot from the end of the boom.
There's enough slack in it so that when loose I can get the boom cover over the cords.
After taking off the sail cover I tighten up the lazyjack cord and make off round a cleat on each side of the mast.
I still use sail ties before slackening the lazyjacks.
I also have a downhaul of 6mm cord which goes up through tie wrap loops that ive added to the sail cars and fixed to the headboard of the sail.
Its run back to the cockpit so can raise and lower and reef the mainsail singlehanded without going on deck.

 

[splax]

main sail capture

I ran a bungee cord loop along the boom clamped at intervals (4) under the boom. I drop the sail, flake, and hook the bungee loop over the sail, hooks on one cord side.

 

[Doug13104]

We have the Mack Pack system on out boat and love it. Check it out.
http://www.macksails.com/mackpack.htm

 

[Claude L.-Auger]

Here are 2 diagrams showing how I've installed them on my 34. I went with only 3 legs instead of 4. I must say that I also use the bungee attachment system as posted by Splax and I am so used in furling the sail on the boom that I only deploy the lazy jacks under heavy wind to prevent sail from flogging over the deck.

 

[CYLAN]

I had no lazy jacks on my c22. I do have lazy jacks on my h28.5. I prefer the latter, as I find them helpful while single-handing in challenging conditions.

I can upload a picture of the rigging diagram sheet that came with them if you like, it should generally apply. Also, I can stow them forward under the reefing hooks while underway.

Hi I'd appreciate seeing your set up.

James.jamieson@yale.edu

 

[Nom De Guerre]

Hi I'd appreciate seeing your set...

I've sent a PDF through to your email.

I also uploaded it to the site knowledgebase, but I think that a site murderator needs to review/approve it before it can be seen/downloaded.

 

[jmce1587]

Check out you tube and search "lazy jacks". There is a video on installing a harken system on a smaller sailboat.

 

[Steve Dion]

We have the Mack Pack system on out boat and love it. Check it out.
http://www.macksails.com/mackpack.htm

If you are going to bite the bullet and go with a Jacks system, I would also consider a Mack Pack.

 

[Nom De Guerre]

If you are going to bite the bullet and go with a Jacks system, I would also consider a Mack Pack.

The only quibble that I would have with a Mack pack (that I know of anyway) is that the zipper on top allows rainwater to collect and be held in the covered folds of the sail.

There is some consideration built into the underside of the Mack pack for drainage, but that is predicated on the water making it to the bottom edge and not collecting in the sail fabric folds.

 

[Doug13104]

We have never had a problem with water inside the Mack Pack!! If any water did get in, and it would be minimal, it would evaporate once the sun comes out. We do not move the Jack lines to the mast when raising the sails just loosen them off. My Wife is on the helm and is great and keeping the boat to wind so I can raise the main without getting the battens caught in the jack lines. Like I said this is a great system.
Doug

 

[Nom De Guerre]

We have never had a problem with water inside the Mack Pack!! If any water did get in, and it would be minimal, it would evaporate once the sun comes out. We do not move the Jack lines to the mast when raising the sails just loosen them off. My Wife is on the helm and is great and keeping the boat to wind so I can raise the main without getting the battens caught in the jack lines. Like I said this is a great system.
Doug

That's great to hear, maybe it's a non-issue.