[Alberg30] Lazy Jacks

Fri Mar 30 03:54:10 PST 2001

Have you tried running an old wax candle up and down your sail track? I had that "slow" problem until I waxed the sail track and now it slides very smoothly.
Frank
Bluegoose
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Brian and Elaine Timmins 
  To: public-list at alberg30.org 
  Sent: Friday, March 30, 2001 5:56 AM
  Subject: Re: [Alberg30] Lazy Jacks


     I installed my own lazy jack system a few years ago. The inspiration for my design came directly from studying the EZ jax system at the Annapolis Boat Show, the first year they exhibited. At the time, I was using a real old mainsail (possibly the original) which had standard battens. The Jax system is wonderful in the fact that it deploys and retracts very easily, quickly, and neatly. It requires no changes to, or method of use of, a standard sail cover.
     The only criticism I have is when dropping the standard batten sail on my boat with old sailslides riding on 7/8 external track the sail sometimes came down fairly slowly and/or needed to be pulled down. During these slow drops, sometimes, the battens would flog around and end up folded over and outside of the Jax system. This required a step or two aft on top of the cabin to flip them back over and into the system. I think this problem might have been caused by my near exact copy of the system. The small cheek blocks on the mast are located just below the spreaders, which means that with our long booms, the system is low profile ala' low profile sail plan. I believe (but have not tested or proven) that if the blocks were higher up the mast like most lazyjacks, this would probably not be a problem.
     I have since changed to a UK 2+2 CM mainsail with two full battens at the top and two standard battens below. UK webbed the slides on and occasionally I still have a problem with the sail not dropping quickly. With this sail, there hasn't been a problem with fold over, even on the slow drops. I hope to eliminate the slow drop problem this season (I have the mast down for the winter so I've got easy access to the whole track) but this doesn't relate to the EZ Jax.
      I have had lazy jacks on two previous boats including a Tartan 27 that I single-handed from NY to Florida, the Bahamas, and back. Lazy jacks are well worth having strictly for control of the main when dropping it. The EZ Jax System eliminates the sloppiness and the under way adjustment and chafe. I highly recommend their style system.
     I know several people that have the Dutchman system installed. Other than complaining about the original rigging when installing the main each year, they have no complaints. I personally feel that there is a danger of mid sail chafe with this system. I have attempted to get several of the users to complain about chafe but so far they all say it isn't a problem. This system was designed with full batten sails in mind and all the owners I know have full battens except for one. That one has on older standard short batten sail. He also likes his system so at least in his opinion it works fine on this style sail as well.
  Hope this helps,
  Brian      Free Spirit     A30    #497
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Guy Lalonde 
    To: public-list at alberg30.org 
    Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2001 9:10 PM
    Subject: Re: [Alberg30] Lazy Jacks


    Alan,
    other systems out there you may want to consider besides lazy jacks are EZ Jax and the Dutchman system. For those not familiar with EZ Jax and the Dutchman check out the links below.

    http://www.ezjax.com/ezjax/
    http://www.sailnet.com/dutchman/

    I'm also considering installing a sail handling system. Any opinions out there on lazy jacks, EZ Jax or the Dutchman ? 

    My understanding is that the EZ Jax would be like lazy jacks except one can raise or lower the system. Lowered when you want to raise the sail so the battens don't get caught up in the system. Raised when you want to take the sail down to catch it.

    Whereas the Dutchman has vertical lines running down from the topping lift to the boom. The lines run through a set of grommets (in the sail) that line up with the lines. Supposedly when you drop the sail, it folds up real nicely.

    Thanks.
    Guy    #466
      ----- Original Message ----- 
      From: Jay Davenport 
      To: public-list at alberg30.org 
      Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2001 7:09 PM
      Subject: Re: [Alberg30] Lazy Jacks


      Alan,

      I'm using lazy jacks on Revolution, #526. I do not have full battens. Overall, I love them. I single-hand a lot, and it is great to be able to drop the main quickly without being blinded with falling canvas. The system I have is Harken, which I do not recommend. EZ Jacks are the best I've seen, but lazy jacks can be made up by you which are just as good, but cheaper. The important thing is to be sure the adjustment points (blocks) for the system are on the mast, and not on the boom. It is also good to have at least 3 or 4 "legs" coming down to the boom, because of the length of the A30 boom. The two adjusting blocks on the mast will normally be a few feet above the spreaders.

      Jay Davenport


      ----Original Message Follows---- 
      From: "Alan P. Kefauver" 
      Reply-To: public-list at alberg30.org 
      To: public-list at alberg30.org 
      Subject: [Alberg30] Lazy Jacks 
      Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2001 18:30:32 -0500 
      Anyone out there using lazy Jacks with a -non-full battened Main? Work well? How far up the mast is the top jack secured. 
      Alan 
      Andante #152 
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