STACK PACK/SAILS

[asilverman]

I am cosidering switching from a standard sail cover to a stack pack (made popular by Doyle). Also considering a new main and genoa. Any experience/recommendations with the stack pack? Any recommendations for a Great Lakes sail maker? I''m located in South Haven, MI and would profer someone within 1/2 day driving distance. Pls resond to asilverman@kal-law.com

[yandina]

We had one of Doyles largest installations until they were lost in a dismasting - no fault of the sails.

Although they are not as idiot proof as Doyle would suggest, they are a great time and effort saver if you can AFFORD them.

Our greatest advantage is we would previously just motor unless going for a long passage because we didn''t want to face the horrendous job of putting the sail cover back on (the cover was bigger than the whole mainsail of smaller boats). Or if we did sail, the sail sat for an extended time until we got round to putting the cover on.

BUT after the stackpack - no problem to hoist the sail for a short hop, then tighten the lazyjacks, drop it in the pocket, zip it up - in time for a cup of tea before dinner.

It is not as idiot proof as they suggest - I usually had to climb up on the boom and straighten it out in the pocket so I could zip it up. The zipper never actually failed but it could be quite a chore operating it at times.