Lazy jacks

Dixon Hemphill · Post by **Dixon Hemphill** » May 31st, '09, 09:53

I have ordered a set of Harken lazy jacks for my CD28 from West Marine at their sale price. Do any of you have these (Harken) on your boat ? If so are they difficult to install and do they work satisfactorily?
I have yet to figure how I will install the supports high up on my mast since I don't plan to get hoisted up there myself. My marina will probably charge me a fortune to have one of their men do it but I guess this is the way to go.

Ron Churgin · Post by **Ron Churgin** » May 31st, '09, 10:04

I have Harken lazy jacks, they work fine. They are easy to put together yourself as well, just small blocks and some line.

Lazy jacks, as with many things in sailing, are a mixed blessing. Definitely easier to douse your sail, especially single handed. More difficult to raise the sail. You must be facing into the wind. It helps to loosen them when sail raising (then your battens don't get caught in them). A nice feature is to be able to bring the lazy jacks forward to the mast when sail raising. That gets them out of the way.

Mine are fastened less than half way between the spreaders and the top of the mast.

Ron M. · Post by **Ron M.** » Jun 1st, '09, 07:50

Use small cheek blocks about 2/3 up the mast.
Consider having your mast pulled to do the installation for lazy jack fittings. Put it on horses so you can take your time and work thoughtfully and comfortably. Around here the cost to have the mast dropped/raised is 75.00 each way.
________
Vapir no2 vaporizer

mattlydon · Post by **mattlydon** » Jun 1st, '09, 14:44

I also have a cd28, which came with the harken system installed. They give me nothing but grief.

You can't use a standard sail cover - mine has zippers where the lines meet the boom.

Your battens catch going up unless you're pointed dead upwind

You're much better off making up your own set according to
http://www.cncphotoalbum.com/doityourse ... yjack1.htm
or
http://www.geocities.com/opahay/ideas.htm

Matt

Dixon Hemphill · Post by **Dixon Hemphill** » Jun 2nd, '09, 19:20

Now I need a third sailor to let me know what he/she thinks about Harken lazy jacks. Matt says they are NG whereas Ron reports that they work fine.

I can always cancel my order with West Marine and build some lazy jacks myself and thus save myself some money if this, in fact, is the best way to go.

I usually sail singlehanded and really do need something to help be get my mainsail lowered on the boom in a fashion that will allow me to get my mainsail cover on properly.

Hope to hear from someone soon.

Jim Davis · Post by **Jim Davis** » Jun 2nd, '09, 20:09

The Harken are fine but as you say, you can save a bunch of money. DIY is the old fashioned way to do things on a boat, I guess Madison Avenue advertising is trying to end the tradition and foster the knowledge that if a company makes it, it must be good.

On Isa Lei I do have lazy jacks and like them. They are on main and mizzen. As for interference with sail covers and raising the sail(s) - YES! The solution is to be able to drop them from the mast and secure them in the down position. In real life it is too easy. When the sail(s) is down just lead the lazy jack around the folds at the mast and tighten the lines. The sail cover(s) fit and when the time comes to raise the sail(s) leave tha lazy jack(s) alone til the sail is up, then raise the lazy jack.

Mine pretty much follow the "geocities" method as stated above.
http://www.geocities.com/opahay/ideas.htm

tartansailor · Post by **tartansailor** » Jun 2nd, '09, 20:10

I have the Harken Lazy Jack system, and it works OK,
and does not affect my main sail cover.
What I would really like to evaluate is a "Dutchman System".
That way flakes the sail like no lazy jack can.
Dick

Randy Capstick · Post by **Randy Capstick** » Jun 2nd, '09, 20:22

Our previous boat had the Sail Cradle from Sailcare. It used a "bungee cord" system that you could move forward beneath the boom so it would lay vertically just behind the mast, when not in use. To deploy you would slide the bungee aft into position, just prior to dropping the sail. Once the sail is dropped, you again move the bungee forward and put your sailcover on.

http://www.sailcare.com/sailcradle.shtml

Randy

Sandy D. · Post by **Sandy D.** » Jun 3rd, '09, 05:27

Hi Dixon,
I went the same route as Matt. My 27 came with the lazy jacks, I used them for the whole season and decided that for me they were more trouble than they were worth, especially when I single hand! Removing them was one of my better moves.

We do have them on the 45' foot boat I race on and they are very handy in keeping the heavy main under control when lowering the sail, but, they are still a royal PITA when raising the sail, especially when the breeze is up.

Just another opinion for you to consider, but I think you should save you money for something else. Just curious........why do you think you need them?

FairWinds
-Sandy

David van den Burgh · Post by **David van den Burgh** » Jun 3rd, '09, 07:00

Randy Capstick wrote:Our previous boat had the Sail Cradle from Sailcare. It used a "bungee cord" system that you could move forward beneath the boom so it would lay vertically just behind the mast, when not in use. To deploy you would slide the bungee aft into position, just prior to dropping the sail. Once the sail is dropped, you again move the bungee forward and put your sailcover on.

http://www.sailcare.com/sailcradle.shtml

Randy

Tried this system on our CD36 and didn't like it. In fact, we probably only used it once or twice. Total pain in the butt. Not at all the wonder product it's advertised to be.

darmoose · Post by **darmoose** » Jun 3rd, '09, 07:24

Dixon,

If I were you I would build my own, I aren't you, but in fact I did build my own. A couple of small blocks, some eyelets, and a couple of circle rings, and some line of your size choice, and bwalla!

You can have as many attachment points onthe boom as you wish, and if you leave the bitter end extra long, you have enough extra length to be able to pull the whole thing (on both sides) forward to the mast when not in use, thereby allowing you to use a standard sailcover with no zippers or slots cut out.

Mine works great, and I don't think any that I have seen any costing several hundreds of dollars that really can compare. It was very easy to make, the hardest part being ascending the mast to install the top blocks. My cost was less than $100.00

If you or anyone else is interested in doing the same, I will be happy to elaborate.

Good luck

Darrell

Dixon Hemphill · Post by **Dixon Hemphill** » Jun 3rd, '09, 07:30

Many thanks to all who came through with info regarding the pros and cons of lazy jacks and outfits that sell them. I think one of my biggest problems is figuring a way to install "hooks" high up on my mast but I'll come up with a solution eventually.

In answer to Sandy's question, "Why do you think you need them?' When I drop the mainsail it flops all over the place. Even when in port after I am in my slip I can lower the sail gradually but trying to flake it over the boom by myself is a real hassle. My sail is the original one and a bit stiff after some 30 plus years of use.

After I have the sail secured with ties I have one heck of a time installing the sail cover because the sail is so bunched up in places!

Dick Kobayashi · Post by **Dick Kobayashi** » Jun 3rd, '09, 08:26

You might have better luck in getting the sail to lie flat on the boom by flaking in the following way.

I flake from the aft end of the boom. I start about 18 inches up the leach and then pull staight back, then repeat. Of course as I do this I keep moving fwd. When I get a couple of feet on the boom I tie it off with a sail tie - acually mine fasten with velcro. I work my way up to the fwd end of the boom this way and I am done. I can't say that the flak meets top end flaking stds - but it works - I have no trouble putting on on the sail cover and I do it alone. You sail is not too much bigger than mine on a 25D. My boat came with Lazy jacks but after a year I removed them - too much trouble for a small sail. btw instalation of ljs will not really help with the flaking problem. Hope this is of some assistance.

Steve Laume · Post by **Steve Laume** » Jun 3rd, '09, 09:27

I certainly considered lazy jacks but it seems like there are a bunch of down sides to having them. The idea of more clutter at the mast, windage, chafe, sail cover modification, and any chance of them being in the way while trying to raise the sail or reef has kept me from installing them.

I never seem to have a problem with controlling the main while dousing.

I head the boat up into the wind, keeping it over the starboard bow. This assures that the boom will stay to port while I work from the starboard side. I free or ease the main sheet, drop the sail quickly then gather it up an put a sail tie or two around the bulk of it.

That is pretty much it for immediate action. I will usually get the halyard off of the head board so it settles down. If I am motoring into a harbor on calm seas I can flake the sail before I get in so I am looking spiffy when we arrive.

Most times I will deal with it as soon as I am on the mooring or the anchor is set. I am then facing into the wind and take my time to do a proper (by my standards) flaking job.

For those of you that do use lazy jacks, do you simply let the main lie as it falls or do you then go back and tidy every thing up before the cover goes on? Do you use sail ties or are the LJs enough to keep the sail where it should be?

I have considered making up a bungee sail keeper with hooks and eyes on either side of the boom. This would be quicker but half the fun of sailing is tying knots, Steve.

Ron Churgin · Post by **Ron Churgin** » Jun 3rd, '09, 13:03

For me, the best aspect of having the lazy jacks is that I can just douse my sail and return to the helm without having to flake or put on sail ties. I do have a full battened main, that probably helps. If its a really windy day I put on a sail tie, but I can do it at my leisure.

Depending on how the sail falls, sometimes I can just put the cover on without sail ties or with minimal flaking. I often have to douse the main at the end of Jones Inlet to go through the drawbridge. Its usually rough there with lots of powerboat wakes. The lazy jacks let me just release the halyard, secure it and get back to the cockpit.

If you start with a new sail, it seems to get trained to stay inside the lazy jacks as you go along, the full battens help it stay in place as well.

The Cape Dory Board

Lazy jacks

Lazy jacks

Don't go with standard lazy jacks - they are a royal pain

lazy jacks

OK here it is, my quarters worth (inflation adjustment)

Dutchman

Check out the Sailcare lazyjack

Re: Check out the Sailcare lazyjack

Flaking