Lazy jacks

[pete faga]

I am going to install lazy jacks this winter while the mast is down.
Any suggestions on which brand.
I just send my main to sailcare and noticed they have a system for about 1/2 of harken.
Any comments would be appreciated
Pete

[Anthony P. Jeske]

Hi Pete:
Check out Jiffy Jax. Here's a link:
http://jiffyjax.com/
I had them on my CD28 and now on my C&C 27.
What I like best is you don't have to modify your sail cover.

Good Luck,
Tony Jeske
C&C27 FLYING CIRCUS
Silver Gate YC
San Diego

[Martinhilldpo]

I have dutchman flaking which came with the boat and I quite like it. A bit of a pita to set up initially but once that is done it works very well. Its probably best to start that way, probably a bit pricey to retrofit, only really works with a topping lift. Worth a look though if you are spending some cash.

I made my own lazy jacks for my last boat. Easy peasy to make your own, I just researched on the interweb, I wouldnt pay good money for a ready made system. It sure was nice not to need a topping lift, the lazy jacks took the strain.

[Jim Cornwell]

Also, check out E-Z Jax. Similar to Jiffy Jacks in that storage along mast and boom means no sail cover modification.
these have worked well on Yankee!

[tjr818]

Also, check out E-Z Jax. Similar to Jiffy Jacks in that storage along mast and boom means no sail cover modification.
these have worked well on Yankee!

Our homemade E-Z jax system works great on Slainte, although on occasion one of our full battens will hang up on the system.

[Neil Gordon]

>>Our homemade E-Z tax system works great on Slainte, ...<<

Exactly what I need: TAX DEDUCTIBLE SAILING!!! Woo hoo!!! Tell me more!!!

[tjr818]

Love that auto spell correct

[John Stone]

Originally, I did not plan to install lazy jacks on the Far Reach. But, Gayle insisted she wanted them. She was right. They have been a wonderful addition. I would not sail without them now. I gave a lot of thought about which of the many designs I would use. Ultimately, I went with a design as described by John Harries on Affordable Adventure Cruising.

It's a somewhat unsual design as the upper end (pendant) is permanently attached to the mast. The running end connects to the end of the boom moving forward and snaking up to the blocks on the pendants and down to the boom and up and down again, creating four legs per side. Ultimately, the running end terminates at the forward end of the boom. Installed in this manner, the long tail is coiled and secured on the forward end of the boom and thus does not compete for space on the mast with halyards and their coiled tails.

The disadvantage is is does require the sail cover to be modified and that alone is the big expense.

However, the system has worked extremely well. I've had no need to pull them forward. I have had zero chafe. I have seen systems with two legs but they don't seem to nest the sail all that well. When I let go the main halyard (We have a Tides Marine Strong Track) the sail drops like a cannon ball and is completely contained by the lazy jacks. There is no rush to put a sail tie on the main which makes singlehanding much easier as I can focus on more important tasks.

I used easy to splice 3/16 dyneema for the pendants (which is slippery and reduces chafe) and 1/4" double braid for the running legs. The set up, as I built it, requires (4) small harken bullet blocks spliced to the lower ends of the pendants, (4) small harken cheek blocks for the boom, (4) small SS strap pad eyes--two on the mast and two on the outer end of the boom, and two small aluminum cleats on the forward end of the boom.

With a battenless main you could haul the main up and down regardless the point of sail and never worry about the sail getting jammed under the lazy jacks. We had our sailmaker build our main with a soft head to make it less likely it will catch on the lazy jacks, though we do have full battens. Nonetheless, I can manage it pretty well. It takes good timing and the bow needs to be generally pointed into the wind but there is some wiggle room. So far, so good.

If this set up appeals to you I would be sure to read John Harris post on AAC for the details and a more complete description of the advantages of this design.

[tjr818]

. . . When I let go the main halyard (along with the strong track) the sail drops like a cannon ball and is completely contained by the lazy jacks. . . .

Be careful of doing that. I did not notice this during the season, but this fall when we take the sails off of Slainte before putting on her winter cover we had a hard time getting the StrongTrack gate off, it seems that the mainsail dropping like a canon ball after every sail slowly drove the track down until it jammed against the gooseneck. We had tightened the screws at the bottom of the track, but that wasn't enough for all of those "cannon balls".

If you remember my story of installing the StrongTrack you might remember how tight it was in the mast groove. We had to winch the track up the last four feet and it took everything we had to get that done. Now we will have to winch it back up in the spring, fortunately it only has to go up two inches.

[pete faga]

Thanks for all the suggestions much appreciated
Pete

[John Stone]

Tim
I drilled through the base of the strong track and through the mast tapping into the mast itself. It can't move--or can it? You make a good point as it could impose a big load on the fastener. I'll keep that in mind. Thanks.

[tjr818]

Thanks John,
I will do that too, once we get the StrongTrack back into place.

[Dick Kobayashi]

This may or may bot be helpful. On my 25D I removed the lazy jacks because the battens would occasionally hang up on them and frankly there is just not that much sail to control - one well placed ties will control the canvas when I drop it on a temporary basis. The key to boom support is to run the topping lift to a small cleat on the stern rail held in place with q hose clamp. Thus with a cabin top main halyard winch and cleat and the topping lift led aft - I can control everything from the cockpit.

[FL Dan]

I live in South FL and had Mack Sails in Stuart FL install mine. They may be able to make you up a set to install on your own. They are great. They also installed their Mack Pack sail cover integrated with the lazy jacks. It is awesome.

[jen1722terry]

These posts are interesting. On our 31, we have two problems with our 2-legged lazy jacks:

1. the battens sometimes snag on the jacks, unless we are dead to windward when we lower, and

2. we have to go forward to tighten the topping lift, as the cleat to stop it is about midway on the boom.

I suspect a solution to #2 would be to run the topping lift tail back to the aft end of the boom and install a cleat near the end to secure/adjust it.

#2 is a bit more complicated. We like the jacks most days, but would like them to not hang up the sail battens when we lower. Would making the jacks 4-legged solve this problem?

Maybe there is an obvious solution, but I'm well into a glass of wine after a long and windy/chilly walk here in Nova Scotia and the old bean may be a bit foggier than normal.

And, of course, looking forward to seeing many of you at the luncheon in February.

Cheers!

Jenn and Terry