What kind of flake are you?

[Dale]

Dutchman

I use a Dutchman and find it works very well even in heavy winds. I think roller furling would be an improvement but much more costly

 

[Patrick , S/V Shangra-La]

In mast roller furling

It came with this boat and I will never have any thing else again!!!

It's said you loose some power with this system, but being able to make the sail the exact size you want, and to do it form the cockpit its priceless.

The loose foot is great on a beam reach, just let out a little on the out haul and the main can take the shape of the jib, and you increase power. If the wind gets too much, just start rolling it in till you get what you want. You are not limited to just 2 or 3 reef points, and there is no sail cover to stow before the trip starts.

 

[dmc]

Lazy Jacks for me

I was a flaker for years and wouldn't be without my lazy jacks again. I made them myself for less than $50.00.

 

[Brian D]

Thank, Frank.

I down loaded the manual yesterday. I still wish I could find that link.

 

[Brian D]

I found the link...

Finally after searching and searching...

Here is the link to a DIY Lazy Jack - http://slowflight.net/upgrades/lazyjacks_how-to.html

 

[Blueskies]

Had Lazy Jacks went to Dutchman

Had Lazy Jacks, even ignoring the problems with the battens getting caught when you raise the main, when you dropped the main it would slough off and was a handful to control. Maybe I needed more lines to create a better nest, but I opted to try the Dutchman system.

It seems to work well for flaking, but need to tension the topping lift before you drop the main. With a full roach main it has taken some getting used to.

As this is only my first year with the system, I will need a bit more time to see if it will work as well as hoped for.

The stack pack looks good, but the Dutchman does flake the main nicely in stronger winds.

 

[Larry Kroeger]

Better than Lazy Jacks

My Morgan OI 415 ketch had no sail handling equipment for the main when I bought it. After a bit of research I purchased the Easy Jacks system for the main. It was an easy installation. I like the fact that the jacks are deployed only when raising or lowering the sail. I liked the system so much I decided to make my own for the mizzen sail. There are at least a dozen eye splices that the supporting lines have, so I bought a Brian Toss Splicing Wand to help make up the rig. My first eye splice took a little over two hours to make, by the last one, I was done to about a half hour. It was a great experience to build my own version of the easy jacks, and I saved quite a bit of money in the process. The Brian Toss Splicing Wand is kind of like the difference between pulling a chain up a hill, and trying to push a chain up a hill.

 

[firehoser75]

Lazy Jacks work well

Lazy jacks work well. Prior to raising the main sail, I move the lazy jacks forward to a cleat on the mast. This means that the lines run along the mast and boom completely out of the way of the sail. They never catch the battens or have an adverse affect on sail shape. Just prior to lowering the sail and once head to wind, I go forward and release the lazy jacks to enable them to do their job. Works very well.

Tom

 

[Capn Bill]

My only experience ....

My only experience with mainsail flaking systems has been lazy jacks - which I've had on two of my boats. I've never had any problems with the main "getting away" from me - or with reduced visibility due to parts of the sail blocking my view. So I would say that lazy jacks do the job well. However - my next boat will probably have a furling main - and I'd love to "hear" from those who have them. Bill on STARGAZER

 

[Breaking wind]

bunjees

work for me, I can't emagine sailing without my furler in the front tho.

 

[lefty sailor]

flaking

I now use an in mast furling system with a vertical batten main sail. Before I got old and stopped racing it was flake the main on the boom and the roll the main when the more exotic materials came on the scene.

 

[Randy]

Laxy Jacks and FLake

I made my own Lazy Jacks. I do a lot of single handed sailing and their primary purpose is to assist in dousing sails without me leaving the cockpit (in most cases).

I take a sailor's pride in hand flaking the sails before I cover.

 

[SailboatOwners.com]

Final results

Final results for the Quick Quiz ending July 28, 2008:

What's your favorite mainsail flaking system?

35% Lazy Jacks type
35% My favorite? None.
18% Dutchman
17% Stack Pack type

 

[Sea Fever]

DIY Lazy Jack

Brian,

The DIY Lazy Jack link does not work. Could you help?

Thanks,

Sea Fever

 

[Sea Fever]

Easy Jack System

Hi Larry,

Can you send me more info or a link for the Easy Jack System?

Thx.

Sea Fever