Lazy Jacks

GaryHLucas · #1 09-16-2008

My boat has lazy jacks, and while I like the concept I am not happy with how they work. With only two lines along side of the sail a lot of it spills out between them. They appear to have been modified, some line is real old and some is newer. The newer lines are larger and it doesn't appear to me there is any benefit to larger lines. I'd like to add an additional line to hold the sail in better. Finally, I need a new sail cover, and I'd like to have one made to fit aroud the lazy jacks and just eliminate the topping lift.

Has anyone seen a lazy jack installation they were particularly impressed with?

Faster · #2 09-16-2008

The bottom sections of our lazyjacks are shock cord, they clip to the boom when required. We stow ours off the boom, on shock cords to the handrails unless we are dousing the main.

Though this creates an extra chore (setting them up and stowing them afterwards) it opens up the space between them for the hoist, making that easier, there are fewer chafe issues without the jacks in place at all times, and we use a regular sail cover without the hassle of fitting it around the jacks.

Being shock cord, though, they cannot act as a topping lift. We have a rigid vang/lift so that's not an issue.

There's an outfit called Ezee Jacks (sp?) that has a retractable setup too, but they are pricey.. though you could easily mimic their setup yourself. Some people swear by these too.

If our setup sounds good to you, PM me and I'll send you some pics. We're quite happy with them.

chef2sail · #3 09-16-2008

Gary we have a double "V" system, which can be pulled to the mast and clipped there when not in use, thus having them out of the way when raising the sail (making it easier) and also negating the need for a specialized sail cover. It linage consists of two length of line with a loop on the end both attached below our lower spreader times two (one on each side of the mast). One length is longer than the other The first line with the loop when pulled straight and down the boom reaches almost 1/2 the way down the boom and is 2 ft above it. The second length (longer) reaches 3/4 way down the boom and 2 ft above it when held tight. 3/8 inch shock cord with plastic attachment hooks at either end of it is attached as follows. One hook on the mast where the boom joins it.....shock cord is led through the first loop....the it i run down to the boom at the 1/2 mark around a small clip hook fastened on the boom and then led through the second looped line and then clipped to the end of ther boom with the other platic hook on the end of the shock cord. It looks like two triangles when in place and the sail never spills out. For removal all you do is pull the hooked end on the end of the boom up to the mast and clip it there out iof the way. Every 3 yeras or so the shock cord needs to be replaced at a minimal cost. Most Lazy jack systems are actually about 300 but you can make this yourself for about 50.

Dave

sailingdog · #4 09-16-2008

I just modified the boom on my boat to have a better lazy jack system and quick furling system. The modification is pretty simple.

I added four padeyes to each side of the boom. On the 12' boom, I spaced the padeyes 1' in from each end and 2.5' apart. I then ran shock cord through the padeyes on each side. On one side, I added plastic shock cord hooks between each pair of padeyes. To furl the sail, I pull the hook over the boom and attach it to the shock cord on the other side of the boom.

I then attached a line to each pair of the padeyes to make a four-leg lazyjack system that looks like this:

The four legs keep the sail pretty well contained when lowering or reefing the sail. The green line is long enough so that the lazy jacks can be lowered and run forward along the boom and up the mast, keeping them out of the way when raising the main or when sitting at anchor.

The materials I used for this are:

10 Padeyes (two are mounted on the mast just below the second set of spreaders, the other eight are mounted on the boom)
2 Harken micro blocks (attached to the padeyes on the mast)
140' of 5/32" line
6 Stainless steel 1" rings for attaching the lines to each other
20' of 1/4" shock cord
3 nylon shock cord hooks
20 3/16" x 1/4" stainless steel pop rivets
Lanocote

If you drop the lazyjacks forward, the sailcover doesn't even need to be modified. Total cost for the system was less than $200.

GaryHLucas · #5 09-16-2008

[QUOTE=chef2sail;369722]Gary we have a double "V" system, which can be pulled to the mast and clipped there when not in use, thus having them out of the way when raising the sail (making it easier) and also negating the need for a specialized sail cover.

Yours sounds exactly like mine, except there is no shock cord, you adjust the topping lines by a cleat on the mast. Maybe the points on the boom where they are attached are located wrong. That might explain why they don't work well.

montenido · #6 09-16-2008

Check out "Jiffy Jax" on google. I just installed them on my Cat 30 and I think they are the best thing since sliced bread. They retract so they fit under your sail cover, and they can be ordered (like mine) to be deployed from the cockpit. Once the sail is dropped and strapped, retract the lines and they are out of the way. Comes with great materials and easy to follow instructions.

My $.02

Good luck.

sander06 · #7 09-17-2008

Slightly off subject... you mentioned having your sail covers made to handle the lazy-jack. I would suggest that you might consider making the sail covers yourself. It's an absolute cinch and would cost less than $100 in materials. Of course, I enjoy sewing having recovered all of our cushions, made pillows, and constructed canvas covers for most of our teak and other deck hardware. Makes me feel more a part of the boat.

GaryHLucas · #8 09-17-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by montenido

Check out "Jiffy Jax" on google. I just installed them on my Cat 30 and I think they are the best thing since sliced bread. They retract so they fit under your sail cover, and they can be ordered (like mine) to be deployed from the cockpit. Once the sail is dropped and strapped, retract the lines and they are out of the way. Comes with great materials and easy to follow instructions.

My $.02

Good luck.

My boat is equipped exactly this way, except only two lines per side, and I see that really need three. The idea of deploying the lazy jacks ever time I take the cover off, then putting them away again is what I don't like. I have to put bungee cords on the lines to keep the shackles or rings from banging against the mast in the wind. The topping lift on my boat is a poor arrangement too. I need a new sail cover. So what I plan to do is eliminate the topping lift, deploy the lazy jacks permanently to hold up the boom, and have the new cover slotted to close around the lazy jacks.

T37Chef · #9 09-17-2008

Check out EZ Jax E-Z-JAX Systems

Great system, priced right (at the time) and came with four lines along the boom.

craigtoo · #10 09-17-2008

I'm experimenting with something...

My lazy Jacks are NOT symmetrical port to starboard.

On the Starboard side I have an EZjacks Copy and on the port side I have a traditional Lazy Jack.

The difference is hard to explain without a pic..(gimme some time to draw one) but the fundamental difference is how the "arc" travels.

If I'm raising or lowering I'll put the bow just off the wind to one side or another.

For raising, you don't want the top battens to catch so I'll push the leech of the sail to arc forward.

Lowering... I start with pusing the sail to arc to stern and swing the bow to push the sail to arc forward.

Wow.. this makes no sense without a pic... or 2

Gimme a minute...or many minutes...