Hi-
Does anybody have any experience or opinions about lazy-jacks?
It seems like Zeno was rigged for lazy-jacks by a previous owner. The hardware (cheek blocks just below the spreaders, eye straps on the boom) is in place, although no lines. It would be a minor thing to make up the proper lines, and I'm as lazy as the next jack. On the other hand, I haven't found the main to be too difficult to handle and I like to keep things simple whenever possible. Are these things going to be another source of chafe and annoyance?
mz
There are probably as many opinions on lazy jacks as there are on ground tackle. I have a dutchman system on the main that was installed by the PO. Nothing on the mizzen. On previous boats I had neither lazy jacks nor dutchman. I didn't miss them but I've never owned a boat with a huge main. That said, I do like the way the Dutchman flakes the sail and keeps it on top of the mast while I'm tidying up so I have left the system in place. Would I purchase it if it wasn't there already? Probably not. However, I'm 59. When I'm 70 ask me again. I'll probably be in an in mast furler by then. :)
Ron
Matchmaker
lying Saint Marks, FL
We have lazy jacks and stack packs on our boat. The cheek blocks just below the spreaders is what we have, and I suggest they be mounted on the spreaders just outside the spreader mounts. I am going to move ours. I think that will open them up a little and they will work better. They do tend to chafe as they are, but when the sails come down, they stack up and stay on the booms. Zip up the stack packs, and that's done. We'll see how they are after moving the blocks. I have the parts, just too many projects going at one time, as usual.
I did not have jacks on either sail until this year. I installed the " Sail Cradle MK IV' sailcare.com on the mizzen. This has worked great. The lazy jack stays along the mast until I am ready to drop the mizzen and then I deploy it. The mizzen sail drops on top of the boom and is out of my way until I get to it. No more trying to tie it up while anchoring. I highly recommend the store and deploy concept. There is no chafing and it is easy to deploy. There was a similar set up in the last "Good Old Boat" I am sure it will work as well as the MK IV but I have used the MK IV and know it works.
Good Luck,
Don Woodruff
I have lazy Jacks & would not be without them, single handing most of the time it helps me deal with the sails when I want to. I do have a small issue when raising the sails and my full battens getting hung up a little its just a managment issue and maybe later on I will take a look at shortening the aft lines a hair.
Drop it and forget it until all the other stuff is done is the only way to go.
Ed
I have had lazy jacks in the past but the batten hang-up issue was too much. Now have a Dutchman and am very happy with it. All of the advantages of lazy-jacks and few of the drawbacks.