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Finally used the RF
On 28 Oct 2003 06:20:26 -0800, (Jim Woodward)
wrote:
Lazy jacks are great for large mains -- they were an essential part of
being able to handle Swee****er short handed, but her main is 750 sq
ft.
On a 28' boat, though, I might pass.
1) They interfere with the sail cover. Either the cover has to be cut
around them or you have to pull them down to the gooseneck before
putting on the cover.
2) If you have battens, you have to be very careful hoisting the sail,
else the battens get caught under a lazy jack. Although you routinely
head upwind before hoisting, with lazy jacks you have to do it with
considerably more precision.
3) If you rig them with blocks up the mast, then the portion going up
the mast will slap in the wind. If you rig them deadended on the upper
mast, then the block under the boom will catch the sail.
I agree with Jim on this one. Our main is 47 foot hoist by 15 foot. It
has slugs so it doesn't all come out of the mast when it drops.
I bought a Harken lazy-jack kit when we bought th eboat in 1989, but
have never installed it. Using them on other boats in the mid 30-foot
range is a PITA to me. We normally sail as a couple, so my wife keeps
the boat into the wind while I take the main down or hoist.
We changed to hank-on jibs about 5 years ago and love it this way.
Getting the main up single-handed is a hassle compared with double
handing. I normally hump the halyard by the mast, and my wife at the
wheel gathers the line through the clutch.
I have a new autopilot that might be able to keep the boat into the
wind, but won't be able to try until spring.
Rodney Myrvaagnes NYC J36 Gjo/a
"Religious wisdom is to wisdom as military music is to music."
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