Quote:
Originally Posted by jackdale
I will second that.
Retractable lazy jacks make it easier to raise the main. The battens do not foul and there is less likelihood that the main halyard gets fed the wrong way.
A separate sail cover allows you see the foot of your main when you you trim the outhaul.
A separate sail cover permits you to leave the cover off and the halyard on, tied through the foremost sail tie, when at anchor or on a mooring.
The only integrated sail cover I seen that I liked rolled up against the boom and stowed nicely.
My $.02.
Jack
|
Its a 4 or 5 step process then. Drop the sail, dress the flaking, tie sailties, retract the jacks, install cover (which you're not likely to do at anchor. Add a step at the start to tension the jacks if you retracted them while you were sailing. I don't see the big deal on leaving the halyard attached. If you had a Mack Pack or Similar you could still do that if you wanted.
The Mack Pack is one of the integrated covers that allows you to retract the jacks and roll the cover alongside the boom if you like, and I think even with it up, you'd be able to see the foot well enough to trim the outhaul. I have to go to the mast to trim the outhaul anyway, so I'd defintely be able to see what was going on on my boat. I can see were it might be an issue if your outhaul is lead aft and you didn't roll the cover up.