[Public-List] Lazy Jacks

[John Riley]

Bill,

Freely admitting that I lie more than a step or two off the reservation,
I do not consider lazy jacks as 'desired gear' for my boats.  I believe
that anything done to the boat to make things "easier" comes with a
price somewhere.  Often, that price is nothing but added "complexity,"
but complexity itself can prove, in some circumstances, a detriment to
safe, efficient operation.

I like the following quotes on the subject:

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." - Leonardo DaVinci

"You know you have reached perfection of design not when you have nothing
  more to add, but when you have nothing more to take away." - Antoine
de Saint-Exupery

I routinely single-hand my boats, sometimes in quite trying conditions,
and find that for me personally, the true preparations are mental.  In
addition to the lack of lazy jacks for the main, I do not have roller
furling for the headsail, though I do occasionally rig a jib downhaul. 
I tend to favor lean, clean and simple, even on the A-30 which has been
a liveaboard and is currently being prep'd for ocean voyaging.

That said, I also subscribe to the philosophy "your boat, your choice,"
so while I do not choose these types of devices on my boats, neither do
I bat a disdainful eye at those that do so choose.  The above offered
simply as food for thought.

If you believe lazy jacks will make your sailing more enjoyable, that's
a win and one I will wholeheartedly defend.  Another nice thing is that
they are not permanent, so that if you happen to find you don't like it
after having tried them, you can remove them (or try a different system,
etc).

Respectfully,

John


Bill Ydel wrote:
> Good Sunday morning to everyone.
>
>  
>
> I am considering Installing Lazy Jacks and would love to hear what others
> have done or not done.
>
>  
>
> Bill
>
> SallyB
>
>   

-- 
John S. Riley
S/V Gaelic Sea
1972 Alberg 30 #521


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