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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Lazy Jacks revisited

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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Initially Posted - 12/30/2007 : 06:34:27

Finally got around to getting the gear ready to install lazy jacks.
Have seen several versions including those of our own members Frank and Dave.

Whenever I do something to the boat that affects rigging time, I spend extra time in the development phase taking rig/de-rig time into account.

Some of the lazy jack designs I have seen appear to be setup such that they remain 'hoisted' all the time. Of course that has the advantage of being ready to use at any time. Just drop the sail and it's restrained, albeit loosely.

However, it also requires that they are setup every TIME after arriving with the boat on trailer at the marina, and for me that would require that they were a simple hook and pull setup.

I have been scouting out lazy jacks designs that are easy to raise and stow, time being an important consideration. (Any of you that regularly trail the boat know where I'm at with this.)

So, I'm curious, if you have lazy jacks installed, do you leave them deployed while sailing?

TIA.

Paul

Joint Decision. (Sold)
PO C250WB 2005 Sail # 841.

Moved up to C34 Eximius

Updated August 2015

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ct95949
Captain

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Aruba
300 Posts

Response Posted - 12/30/2007 : 10:49:50

I single hand a lot and it's great being able to pop a clutch and have the main drop to the boom in a nice pile instead of all over the cabin top. I leave them deployed all the time even with the cover on. I have a cam cleat on the boom to release tension when I want the main to belly out some. I've found that both the lazy jacks and the single line reef interfere with perfect sail shape to some degree. Switching to 3/16" line and a two line reef system has helped. A quick way to rig when you launch would be a shackle at each block where the mast line joins the boom line. Here are some old pics before the fine tuning.

Edited by - ct95949 on 12/30/2007 19:40:20

britinusa
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Response Posted - 12/30/2007 : 11:01:28

Craig & Lorri, thanks. Off topic: It looks like you have your single line reefing setup to the 2nd reef. Any particular reason for that?

Paul

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jerlim
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1484 Posts

Response Posted - 12/30/2007 : 11:11:56

Paul - Yes, I leave them deployed all the time. They are loose enough not to interfere w/ sail shape, as well as the sail cover when buttoned up, but as you say, keep the main from draping all over the place...once the main is dropped, I keep it in place on the boom with a few bungees. My only challenge, is the main has full battens and they can get caught on the lazy-jack lines when hoisting the main unless I'm pretty much dead into the wind.

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Nautiduck
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3704 Posts

Response Posted - 12/30/2007 : 11:23:33

How do you put the sail cover on a sail that has lazy jacks? Any pics of that?

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jerlim
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Response Posted - 12/30/2007 : 12:54:28

Sorry, no pics at this time, and we're on the hard, so there's gonna be a bit of a wait...If I can try to describe it - the lazy-jack lines - there are only 2 per side, as shown above - are loose enough that the sail cover goes between the lines and the sail. Admittedly, at the points where the lines pass through the pad eyes or secure to a cleat, they do cause the cover to bunch up a little, but not so much if you spend the time to fuss w/ it while buttoning up.

Edited by - jerlim on 12/30/2007 12:56:27

britinusa
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Response Posted - 12/30/2007 : 18:33:11

So far I have the boom lines installed and the halyard and downhaul lines ready to setup.

I thought of removing the lower screws securing the deck light to the mast and using them to secure a strap or something to hold up the lazyjack halyards.

Jerry, do you loosen up the LJ's prior to hoisting the sail to avoid batten snags?

So far it's looking neat, won't be able to complete it till we're at the marina on Friday 4th. We're headed for a 4 day cruise around biscayne bay.

Will take pics then too.

Paul

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ct95949
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Aruba
300 Posts

Response Posted - 12/30/2007 : 19:37:40

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by britinusa
 Craig & Lorri, thanks. Off topic: It looks like you have your single line reefing setup to the 2nd reef. Any particular reason for that?

Paul
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
When I first started rigging my boat I thought I wanted a single line for both first and 2nd reef points. Wrong, way to much line, friction and headaches. Went with separate 3/16" lines to fore and aft first reef points with hooks that can be moved to the 2nd points if needed (which means going to the mast in high wind, defeating the purpose of lines led aft

)
The sail usually stacks better with the lazy jacks snug and the battens will almost always hang up when hoisting. Until I find a better solution I've been doing a 'pre-hoist' at the mast while still in the slip. If you get the head of the main above where the line hooks to the mast you're home free. If you want to drop the sail for a short time then hoist again don't go below that point. I've never had a problem maneuvering in tight spots with this small amount of sail exposed.

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jerlim
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1484 Posts

Response Posted - 12/30/2007 : 20:37:11

Paul - I simply leave them fixed at a loose trim and avoid the batten snags by keeping the bow into the wind (with the benefit of motor power) when hoisting. Some may think it allows the main to be a little sloppy when dropped - although it is off the cabin top and I eventually secure it w/ bungees, and the lazy-jacks mostly keep out of the way when hoisting while not interfering with mainsail shape while underway. It took me a little bit, but I am comfortable with the balance I've achieved - however inelegant it may seem at first glance...

Edited by - jerlim on 12/30/2007 20:40:42

Brooke Willson
Admiral

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USA
983 Posts

Response Posted - 12/31/2007 : 08:26:20

Years ago I installed the Harken lazy jack kit on my C25. The lower lines are really one continuous line, running from a terminus on one forward side of the boom, up through one block, down to the aft of the boom, under through an eye, up through the block on the other side, down through a cheek block forward, and then forward to an eye on the mast. If you make that line long enough, you can slack the whole system, pull the lines forward after flaking/stowing the mainsail, and hook them over the big halyard cleats on the mast. Then you can put an unmodified sail cover on without any problem. If you have a topping lift, you don't need the jacks deployed at the dock.

Brooke

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