Scosch,
Yes, spreaders, about 6" from the mast, and yes, the spreaders a little less than halfway.
The EZ Jax (
E-Z-JAX Systems) are stowed away when raising the main, and deployed when lowering so the battens catching the jax is not an issue, although I have left them deployed when raising with little problems, but they do catch if your not fast raising the sail
I cant speak to the lazy jax, but all is working well with the ezjax.
(sorry I don't have any pics of it)