Lazy Jacks

[AlaskaMan]

I am looking for a recent source of supply for the "Lazy Jacks" system. I have a 2002 26X. I see KH has them listed at 545.00. I did a search and cannot find any newer posts on them. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

[SRQBob]

Whoa! $545?
Get some heavy monofilament line, and some press on grommets and save yourself 500 bucks.
Personally, I don't think the main on a 26X is large enough to need lazy jacks. But, that's a choice every owner is entitled to make.
If you examine what is actually involved in a lazy jack system, it's very simple. Just drop the mono line from your topping lift, through the grommets (you've installed on the main) and attach to the boom. Even including installing grommets, shouldn't take more than 2-3 hours (and that's working slowly and carefully!).
I'd bet a single vertical line, positioned about 1/3 the length of the boom from the mast, would keep almost all the main "flaked" near the boom. Then, just tidy up with sail ties. A commercial system would probably have two vertical lines, and I'm sure that would keep the entire main close to the boom.
Good luck.

[Love MACs]

Did you check the Mac Mods section for Lazy Jacks? There is a post with pics from a member that might give you a good idea for making your own. I have a homemade set from the PO that I have not installed yet. But fairly simply made and I think workable, just not willing to take the mast down right now to install them


Allan

[phil kelly]

Bob
Not sure quite how to do that-Where and how do you place the grommets through the main ?
Any chance of a diagramme.

[Rick Westlake]

Is that just lazyjacks, or a Cradle Cover? I remember seeing KH advertising the Doyle Cradle Cover for about $550.



The Cradle Cover is a top-opening mainsail cover with integrated lazyjacks. It fits into the foot luff-rope groove in the boom, so you need a loose-footed mainsail (an easy modification for a sail loft). The sail pretty-much drops into the Cradle Cover when you dowse sails, and the cover zips shut over it. (You do have to pull back the leech of the sail to straighten it out before you zip the cover shut, but that's nothing compared to faking down the mainsail and tying it onto the boom.)



When I'm sailing, the Cradle Cover does not interfere with the foot of the sail. There are slots for slab-reefing leech lines, and the Cradle Cover contains the bunt of a reefed sail. I have pulled the lazyjacks forward to the mast and rolled the sides of the Cradle Cover down alongside the boom, and I might again if I were racing - but I don't race Bossa Nova.

The greatest awkwardness is when I remove the boom to lower the mast. I've devised a way to use the integrated lazyjacks to help me with this; and when the boom is down, I lash it (Cradle Cover and all) to the lifeline stanchions. I don't think it's any worse than removing the sail and bagging it belowdecks for travel.

I would not willingly go back to a leg-of-mutton sail cover and separate lazyjacks. I bought mine from Doyle Chesapeake Sails in Annapolis - close to my home - and paid about $650 for it; I count it one of the best purchases I've made for Bossa Nova.

(Do I sound, perhaps, over-fond of my Cradle Cover?)

[AlaskaMan]

Thanks for the responses. Up here in SE Alaska it can get interesting when it's time to drop the main, whether I am single handed or have the crew on board. I think the Lazy Jack system would make things a lot more comfortable for everyone.

[c130king]

AlaskaMan,

I did a search on WestMarine, Defender, and Sailrite. They have LJ systems ranging from $160 to $250 for Mac sized boats. But these are just "simple" LJ systems versus the Cradle Cover style that Rick linked to.

I have one of these "simple" systems and it works great for me. Very necessary IMHO since I like to singlehand and can drop the main from the cockpit and not have to get up on deck. The LJ system catches the sail and I can just motor away. Don't even have to tie it down...but I do if I am going to motor fast for more than a few minutes.

I believe the references to the grommets in the main is for another system...can't think of the name but several guys on this board have it. The "simple" LJ system does not need any grommets. You need to do nothing to the sail. You just need to mount a few blocks and install some line.

Don't remember which brand my system was as it came with the boat. But I modified it quite a bit and it is pretty much homemade now. I made it "quick release" so that I can take the LJ system down quickly/easily when I want to put the sail cover on...or my future boom tent.

Here is picture of my lines:


And here is a short video of my LJ system in action. Notice I never leave the cockpit and the sail flakes into the LJ system very nicely:
http://s132.photobucket.com/albums/q17/ ... sDec09.flv

Cheers,
Jim
Sailing on König

[delevi]

Jim, that was awesome! Does your mainsail come down like that every time? Do you use a downhaul line or does it just drop like that? Love it! Mine always requires help to manualy bring it down.

Leon

[c130king]

Leon,

Yes, every time it comes down like that. But, yes, I also have a "haul down" (as opposed to the rigging feature that already has the name "down haul"). My "haul down" is just the opposite end of my halyard. The line is over 70' long...one end tied to the top of the head board and run up over the block at the top of the mast (the "halyard" part) and the other end is tied to the top most sail slug and is used to pull the sail down. The line runs through a series of blocks back to the cockpit.

I didn't design or build this. It was designed/installed by the original owner (an ex-pat Brit living in Tarpon Springs, FL). However, I redid the Lazy Jack system to make it "quick release" and easier/more convenient to use.

Sorry to hear you are parting ways with Rusalka. That is one "sweet" boat...you have really fixed her up well and somebody is going to be very happy when they buy it off of you. Best of luck with your new boat. Thanks for all your great contributions to this forum.

Cheers,
Jim
Sailing on König

[1st Sail]

Alaskaman,
Do you have a picture of the upper mast where the lazy jack lines attach?
How does the LJ lines affect sail shape?

Thanks,

Dave

[c130king]

Dave,

Is your question meant for me? I am currently in the office (system restricted access to Photobucket) getting ready to catch a car to Heathrow and won't be able to post pics until tomorrow as I am in transit to Crete for a conference. Of course that assumes my hotel has Wi-Fi.

I have the LJ lines "pulled open" to increase the width of the "slot" to ease raising and lowering of the main. This is done with lines attached to the shrouds and the LJ lines (tied with granny knots...easy and works well).

No impact on sail shape at all. In fact, when the sail is up the LJ lines go fairly slack like the topping lift. They weight of the boom pulls them tighter when I lower the main.

I will post pics of the upper attachment area and the "cross lines" that attach to the shrouds and a pic of the sail and how the LJ lines are somewhat slack under sail tomorrow.

Cheers,
Jim

[SRQBob]

Phil Kelly asked for a diagram for home made lazy jacks.
So, I've given it a shot.
The vertical distance between grommets would determine how large each "flake" of the sail would be. But, obviously, they shouldn't be too close together.
Monofilament line has a low friction and should allow the sail to drop easily. Where these attach to the topping lift is probably the most tricky part of the project... but, trial and error or high school trigonometry would both be useful.
The fewer lines aloft, equals less windage and more simplicity. That's why I suggested that a single lazy jack line might work. BUT, I haven't tried it and it might not provide enough sail "guidance" when the sail is dropped.
I simply can't imagine why a commercial system would cost over $500. I've sailed on boats that have lazy jacks and I didn't ask if they bought or made them. None of these systems were the combo sail cover/lazy jack system. I can see why that would cost more, and MAYBE would be worth it if you didn't already have a sail cover.

Blast!
I made a drawing, wrote this and now can't figure out how to put the picture in.
I don't use Photobucket, etc. Can someone give me a hint how to directly place the pic (I can change it to any file type) in this message box?

[jschrade]

How well do the lazy jacks due when not pointed to windward?

On a calm day, I have no issue sitting on the hatch and quickly dressing the sail, it's easy. Where the lazy jacks would be of interest to me is when it's not so calm, the boat is pitching and rolling and I don't want to go up on the hatch to dress the sails.

I am sure the scenario is better than dumping them on the deck but I could see a good wind from the aft quarters lifting the sails against the lazy jacks creating a problem. Meaning I would still have to hop up on the hatch to dress the sails.

Any comment from those that have these?

Jim

[Catigale]

don't use Photobucket, etc. Can someone give me a hint how to directly place the pic (I can change it to any file type) in this message box?

You cant actually - this helps keep this site run on a donations only basis!!

[DaveB]

Just consider the wind force on all those lines A-Loft. Bare poles in 35 Knots wind abeam can take you to a Knock down if hit with a beam sea.
I don't like any lines above the boom than I need to have, includeing a topping lift.
If you do decide for a Lazy Jack system, consider weight at top of mast for reduction.
In Florida I often get hit with 35- 45 knot wind during thunderstorms.(It's like hitting a wall broadside, when you see the white caps ,wind ripping the tops off less than 1000 ft. away...than WHAM..Gunnel in Water).
If you don't have those types of Thunderstorms and can perdic weather for a few hours and easy safe heaven withing reach, go for it.
Takes us 2 min. to lower the Mainsail and we flake it on the boom to last our sail.
Someday I will lead mainsail halyard aft for my girlfriend so she doen't have to go on deck to raise or lower main.
Dave

Thanks for the responses. Up here in SE Alaska it can get interesting when it's time to drop the main, whether I am single handed or have the crew on board. I think the Lazy Jack system would make things a lot more comfortable for everyone.