When we bought our vessel it came with a unique mainsail stowing system comprised of lazy jacks and split mainsail cover that is attached to the boom and allows the release of the main by unzippering. Okay, nifty looking enough, but lately I have had problems raising the main as the battens would get caught in the lazy jacks. The nose is dead in the wind. This also happens when lowering the sail, which seems to defeat the purpose of the lazy jacks. The lazy jacks can be lowered via cleated lines on the mast, but by lowering them would defeat their purpose and that is to guide and retain the main. Am I doing something wrong here? Should the jacks be lowered when raising? Never having a vessel with this arrangement I am used to the more conventional method of lowering the main, using bungee and covering with the main cover. Simple enough. Now the crew has to work harder to ensure the battens don't get trapped going up and down! Its been more of a hassle and I am ready to deep six this concept that I once thought was better then sliced bread, or so I thought. Any lazy jack experts out there? Your guidance is appreciated. Thanks Bob
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It is a problem...
When I re-rigged my Cat27 about 12 years ago, I installed lazy jacks. I find as well that the top two battens (which are full battens on my main) tend to wnat to hang up on the after lines on the LJ's. But I find its not a big deal, when raising or lowering and head-to-wind, to just let the sail luff for a couple seconds until the battens are clear of any potential fouling with the LJ's, then haul like crazy until the battens are high enough to clear them. A little hassle, but not a big deal. And mine don't foul when dropping the main. My after LJ is about 60% of the way back from the mast, so it contains most of the volume of the main, but not all. Maybe your aft line on your LJ's is too far aft? Would it be less inclined to hang up if you moved it forward? Good luck! Peter
When I re-rigged my Cat27 about 12 years ago, I installed lazy jacks. I find as well that the top two battens (which are full battens on my main) tend to wnat to hang up on the after lines on the LJ's. But I find its not a big deal, when raising or lowering and head-to-wind, to just let the sail luff for a couple seconds until the battens are clear of any potential fouling with the LJ's, then haul like crazy until the battens are high enough to clear them. A little hassle, but not a big deal. And mine don't foul when dropping the main. My after LJ is about 60% of the way back from the mast, so it contains most of the volume of the main, but not all. Maybe your aft line on your LJ's is too far aft? Would it be less inclined to hang up if you moved it forward? Good luck! Peter
Are They Loose?
With mine, I find that loosening the lazy jacks before raising the main is sufficient to keep the battens from fouling. With enough slack in the lazy jack line, any foul that starts shakes out as the main goes up.
With mine, I find that loosening the lazy jacks before raising the main is sufficient to keep the battens from fouling. With enough slack in the lazy jack line, any foul that starts shakes out as the main goes up.
Maybe they are too tight!
What surprises me is that the lazy jacks will additionally impact the sail shape as they hold the mast in too tight and this changes the configuration. I can see loosening them just before hoisting and leaving them loose to allow the main to shape. But, then I would have a bunch of lose flying lines. Personnally, if this system continues to be a pin in the butt I will go back to my perferred main lowering-flaking on the boom-bungee and cover. Sure will make things a lot easier. Regards Bob Cat 30
What surprises me is that the lazy jacks will additionally impact the sail shape as they hold the mast in too tight and this changes the configuration. I can see loosening them just before hoisting and leaving them loose to allow the main to shape. But, then I would have a bunch of lose flying lines. Personnally, if this system continues to be a pin in the butt I will go back to my perferred main lowering-flaking on the boom-bungee and cover. Sure will make things a lot easier. Regards Bob Cat 30
Lazy Jacks Rising Sail
It's pretty simple. Just take one whole side of the lazy jacks up to the mast when raising sail and bring 'em back anytime you like before lowering. Say you pull the starboard ones forward. When you raise the sail, just have the wind coming a little bit over the port side of the bow. The battens will blow to starboard, but the lazy jacks won't be there! You could also move them both back to the mast, and sail all day with them there, but then you have to go up to the mast the get 'em rearranged. We just hook the starboard lazy jacks on a cleat on the boom near the gooseneck, raise the main either from the cockpit or from the mast, then de-hook them from the cleat and tighten them up. Requires extra line on the lazy jacks, but ours are run aft to the cockpit anyway, so there's plenty of line. We leave them loose enough not to tighten against the sail, but tight enough not to flog. You don't have to thread a needle. Also, what you descirbe seems to be the Doyle Stack Pack. Stu
It's pretty simple. Just take one whole side of the lazy jacks up to the mast when raising sail and bring 'em back anytime you like before lowering. Say you pull the starboard ones forward. When you raise the sail, just have the wind coming a little bit over the port side of the bow. The battens will blow to starboard, but the lazy jacks won't be there! You could also move them both back to the mast, and sail all day with them there, but then you have to go up to the mast the get 'em rearranged. We just hook the starboard lazy jacks on a cleat on the boom near the gooseneck, raise the main either from the cockpit or from the mast, then de-hook them from the cleat and tighten them up. Requires extra line on the lazy jacks, but ours are run aft to the cockpit anyway, so there's plenty of line. We leave them loose enough not to tighten against the sail, but tight enough not to flog. You don't have to thread a needle. Also, what you descirbe seems to be the Doyle Stack Pack. Stu
lossen the lazy jacks
I have Lazy Jacks on my full batten C30 and admit that if the boat isn't pointed into the wind sometimes the battens hang up. Adjust your LJ's when the sail is up, allow some slack so the LJ's aren't tight, supporting the boom. Once set they should be good. Remember always leave the main sheet free when raisng the main, this will allow the boom, LJ's and main sail to stay aligned to the wind. I have to say it's really never been a problem for me.
I have Lazy Jacks on my full batten C30 and admit that if the boat isn't pointed into the wind sometimes the battens hang up. Adjust your LJ's when the sail is up, allow some slack so the LJ's aren't tight, supporting the boom. Once set they should be good. Remember always leave the main sheet free when raisng the main, this will allow the boom, LJ's and main sail to stay aligned to the wind. I have to say it's really never been a problem for me.
Doyle Stack Pack
Indeed I do have the Doyle Stack Pack complete with a running zipper that can be opened and closed from the cockpit. I have to admit, its a great set up for single handing and retains the main well, but given the option, I would return back to flaking the main, applying the bungee and using a standard sail cover. Thanks for the feedback Bob
Indeed I do have the Doyle Stack Pack complete with a running zipper that can be opened and closed from the cockpit. I have to admit, its a great set up for single handing and retains the main well, but given the option, I would return back to flaking the main, applying the bungee and using a standard sail cover. Thanks for the feedback Bob
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