Main Sail Cradle (MacStack) from Blue Water Yachts.

[dxg4848]

I just ordered lazy jacks/cradle (cover) from Blue Water Yachts called MacStack for next season. I was told that it will work with my stock main sail with sail slugs and halyard led aft. I also had to buy an accessory that covers mast gate preventing sail slugs from coming out without using gate stop. I was told I need it to be able to close cradle when main is all the way down. With this new cradle I will have to use my main sail with loose foot because the cradle fits into boom's bolt rope slot.

I am wondering if someone here uses exact same cradle. Blue Water Yachts calls it MacStack. Just looking for some feedback, installation advise, watch-outs, etc.

Your comments are greatly appreciated!

[Russ]

I bought the mast gate thingy. Took about 2 minutes to install.
Would love to hear more about this stack.

[yukonbob]

same on the gate stop. I have to palce an order this year either way, I may now get this Macstack you speak of, as the new main i purchased fits the requirements perfectly. Now that you have the mac stack ordered its a good excuse to order a new sail

[dxg4848]

Now that you have the mac stack ordered its a good excuse to order a new sail

My main is still in good shape. One thing at a time

[geminiI-Can]

I saw the Mac Stackpack on the BWY boat at the Seattle Boat Show last year and immediately ordered one. We have used it all summer on our and love it. Sail handling is so much easier. No more wrestling with all that fabric up on the deck. Now I just give a little tug on the downhaul and everything falls into the stackpack, a little tug to flatten the flakes and then do up the zipper (all from the cockpit). All ready to be deployed next time. Easy to install with directions sent from BWY (I already had the cover plate on the mast slot). My one recommendation is to be sure to round the corners of the stiffening rods inserted at the top of the stackpack on each side of the zipper. Mine have worn a hole in the fabric at the end of the tube that holds the rods. My first mod/repair of this fall was rounding the ends of the rods, patching the corners that had worn through and now everything is good as new and ready for next season.
Rick

[cptron]

Hey Rick,
Do you have to run with the main loose footed or do they both fit in the bolt rope slot on the boom?

[dxg4848]

Hey Rick,
Do you have to run with the main loose footed or do they both fit in the bolt rope slot on the boom?

You definitely have to run with the main loose footed. Only Macstack fits in the bolt rope slot. As I was told by BWY stack main sail with bolt rope ran be run loose-footed. You get an accessory with Macstack to mount on boom to be able to run with stock main loose footed.

[dxg4848]

I saw the Mac Stackpack on the BWY boat at the Seattle Boat Show last year and immediately ordered one. We have used it all summer on our and love it. Sail handling is so much easier. No more wrestling with all that fabric up on the deck. Now I just give a little tug on the downhaul and everything falls into the stackpack, a little tug to flatten the flakes and then do up the zipper (all from the cockpit). All ready to be deployed next time. Easy to install with directions sent from BWY (I already had the cover plate on the mast slot). My one recommendation is to be sure to round the corners of the stiffening rods inserted at the top of the stackpack on each side of the zipper. Mine have worn a hole in the fabric at the end of the tube that holds the rods. My first mod/repair of this fall was rounding the ends of the rods, patching the corners that had worn through and now everything is good as new and ready for next season.
Rick

Rick,

Thanks a lot for your feedback. I will definitely round the corners as you suggested.

How do you reef with Mackstack?

Thanks!

[rszobel]

how much is the macstack/lazy jack kit ? Will it fit an ?

[BOAT]

Is there a place to see pictures of it?

[dxg4848]

how much is the macstack/lazy jack kit ? Will it fit an ?

It cost $399 and according to BWY it fits only M.

[dxg4848]

Is there a place to see pictures of it?

I couldn't find pictures not on BWY website and not on Google.

[BOAT]

Is there a place to see pictures of it?

I couldn't find pictures not on BWY website and not on Google.

Darn, I wanted to see . thanks.

[geminiI-Can]

Yes the sail is loose footed with the bolt rope of the stack pack sliding into the boom. A slider (included) to attach the clew is attached to your outhaul line. Todd at BWY suggests the improved sailing characteristics of the loose footed system is probably counteracted by the effects of the Stackpack along the bottom of the sail. Neither of which are probably very important as it is after all a Macgregor and not a finely tuned sailing machine.

I have double jiffy reefing, 1st point on the starboard side of boom and 2nd point on the port side of the boom. The stackpack has no effect on reefing other than the excess sail along the boom is held in the stackpack when reefed.

One of the our other members of the Macgregor Yacht Club of B.C. near Bellingham, Washington has an and he got the first stackpack designed to fit the last spring. I have looked on the BWY website a couple times and have not been able to find the stackpack listed there. Give them a call as I am sure they are selling them for both the and the I am sure if they listed it they would sell a bunch hint, hint. Sorry I don't have any pictures and Gemini is tucked in for the winter.
Rick