This bulletin board, hosted by the CDSOA, Inc., is the on-line meeting place for all Cape Dory owners and groups. We welcome everyone's questions, answers and comments about Cape Dory sailboat
jen1722terry wrote:Yeah, we have them on our 31, along with full battens. We agree with fmeuller that it takes a bit of technique to avoid snagging a batten on the jacks but you get used to it.
I've thought about installing a third jack toward the aft end of the boom to avoid the sail spinning out onto the dodger and bimini. Or moving the aft jack farther aft. Any thoughts on this idea?
Other than the above, I don't know jack****!!!
And all of you out there: stay healthy and dream about a good summer of sailing and friendship.
Thanks for the feedback!
BTW, what do you extreme northern sailors do with all those sailboats and a short season of sailing? It’s all I can do to keep ahead of maintenance mixed with a little bit of sailing and that’s with one boat and 11-12 months.
jen1722terry wrote:Yeah, we have them on our 31, along with full battens. We agree with fmeuller that it takes a bit of technique to avoid snagging a batten on the jacks but you get used to it.
I've thought about installing a third jack toward the aft end of the boom to avoid the sail spinning out onto the dodger and bimini. Or moving the aft jack farther aft. Any thoughts on this idea?
Other than the above, I don't know jack****!!!
And all of you out there: stay healthy and dream about a good summer of sailing and friendship.
We did a third line and it does help on our 30. I Thought about 4 but did not. It would not have been needed. Dennis
Lower Chesapeake Bay, Sailing out of Carter's Creek Danielle Elizabeth
CD30
n5ama wonders how we northern sailors get our maintenance done. Foggy days! And we get quite a few. Also, we rent a small apartment near our Blue Hill, ME yard for 5-days to a week spring and fall to get a lot done, which minimizes major maintenance over the (admittedly short) sailing season.
Joe M. had mentioned sailing with a reef on Buzzards bay. We often do one reef on shorter sails out of Northeast Harbor, ME, but not just for wind. We both suffer from abject laziness and we'll often sail our cutter with a reefed main and just the staysail. Makes the entire boat self tacking with decent balance. Just turn the wheel, no sheets to trim, no yankee stuck in the slot. Nice for afternoon sails to watch the local, lovely IOD races or for a lunch sail up Somes Sound.
Cheers to all!
Jennifer & Terry McAdams
Kearsarge, New Hampshire
Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia
CD 31 #33 "Glissade"
Way too many other small boats
My preference is in favor of lazy jacks, noting that my main on my 32 is larger, though.
Years ago I installed a combo lazy jack/sail cover from Mack Sails called a Mack Pack. They'll make it in any color Sunbrella you choose. When rigged correctly, you drop the sail right into the sail cover, tuck in a few loose folds and reefing lines, and zip it right up. Basically the same idea as a Doyle Stack Pack but the sail remains independent (not sewn in) and it costs a lot less. You still have to watch for full battens fouling the LJs upon raising the main, but other than that has added a lot of convenience. You can also bring the LJs forward and roll down the Mack Pack under sail if you want. Finally, when the time comes for some service in the future, Mack has a very reasonable charge for renewing the Mack Pack, including a new zipper if needed, patches if needed and replacing any other torn or worn bits. I do recommend this for anyone who wants both lazy jacks and an integrated sail cover.