On Sun, 25 Feb 2007 10:23:36 -0800, "Capt. JG"
wrote:

As a follow up, I should say that LJs are definitely preferable to not
having anything.

I agree with that, I think they're a big help getting the main under
control.

On my old Cal-34 we rigged something that I called "poor man's lazy
jacks". Basically they were just two pieces of 3/8ths shock cord run
along each side of the boom, each with a small loop tied in the middle
of the shock cord. When I wanted to use the "lazy jacks" I'd bring a
halyard aft around the shrouds on each side of the boat, clip each
halyard to the loop in the shock cord, and then hoist the halyard up
about 15 ft forming a triangle with the shock cord on each side of the
boom. It was very effective, cost next to nothing, and was out of the
way when you didn't need it.

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
news
On Sun, 25 Feb 2007 10:23:36 -0800, "Capt. JG"
wrote:

As a follow up, I should say that LJs are definitely preferable to not
having anything.

I agree with that, I think they're a big help getting the main under
control.

On my old Cal-34 we rigged something that I called "poor man's lazy
jacks". Basically they were just two pieces of 3/8ths shock cord run
along each side of the boom, each with a small loop tied in the middle
of the shock cord. When I wanted to use the "lazy jacks" I'd bring a
halyard aft around the shrouds on each side of the boat, clip each
halyard to the loop in the shock cord, and then hoist the halyard up
about 15 ft forming a triangle with the shock cord on each side of the
boom. It was very effective, cost next to nothing, and was out of the
way when you didn't need it.


Wayne, trying to picture this: You had separate LJ's on either side of the
boom, each with their own dedicated halyard? Pretty clever if that's it. I
like it. If I have to re-do Essie's LJ's some day, something like that might
be just the thing. :-)

On Sun, 25 Feb 2007 14:52:35 -0600, "KLC Lewis"
wrote:

Wayne, trying to picture this: You had separate LJ's on either side of the
boom, each with their own dedicated halyard? Pretty clever if that's it. I
like it. If I have to re-do Essie's LJ's some day, something like that might
be just the thing. :-)

The halyards were only dedicated during the time that the LJs were
needed, ie, during the mainsail drop. There were lots of spare
halyards available since we were set up for racing and doing headsail
changes on the fly. Once the mainsail was down and tied up, we'd ease
off on the LJ halyards and lead them back forward. The shock cord
would retract and lay flat against the boom until needed the next
time.

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 25 Feb 2007 14:52:35 -0600, "KLC Lewis"
wrote:

Wayne, trying to picture this: You had separate LJ's on either side of the
boom, each with their own dedicated halyard? Pretty clever if that's it. I
like it. If I have to re-do Essie's LJ's some day, something like that
might
be just the thing. :-)

The halyards were only dedicated during the time that the LJs were
needed, ie, during the mainsail drop. There were lots of spare
halyards available since we were set up for racing and doing headsail
changes on the fly. Once the mainsail was down and tied up, we'd ease
off on the LJ halyards and lead them back forward. The shock cord
would retract and lay flat against the boom until needed the next
time.


Okay, gotcha. I've a couple of spare halyards foward of the mainmast --
spinnaker halyard (drifter, actually) and staysail halyard. I suppose they
could be used for that purpose, but they'd chafe with much use. And when I
need to douse or reef the main in a hurry, it's awfully nice to have the
LJ's there -- even if they're somewhat slack, without having to go forward
and rig them up.

But a couple of dedicated small halyards could be just the ticket, along
with your shock cord sollution. My boat is a tangle of lines for this, lines
for that, more lines for the other thing, with spares in case I might want
to do something else. But I sure do have a lot of options.