Lazy Jacks

[Hawk]

Just had my new North Sails main put on replacing the original main sail with the lazymate system (running up/down the topping lift). A somewhat odd but effective way of near self-flaking.

The question is whether to add lazy jacks. Nice to drop the main and keep it off the deck. But anyone dead against them?
I don't want any more lines to potentially slap the mast at anchor for instance. I did read Ron's description of his system.

Thanks for any input.
Tom

[Michael Shaner]

Tom,

Never had any experience with lazy jacks prior to this boat...now I don't know how we ever managed without them. There is no slapping or banging...quiet as church mice!

[iwillmott]

They are great for single handing .I have 'em ,find that I have to turn into the wind to get the main to drop completely-no stress on the slugs. Same with raising-battens sometimes get snagged but not a big problem if you have auto helm. I would buy them again.

ian

[Mike and Joanne Stimmler]

Hrer's a lazyjack idea that I borrowed from a C36 neighbor. I downsized the line to 1/4 instead of the 5/16 and the rings to 1 1/4.
It seems to work pretty well and you can bring the lines back to the cleat on the mast to be able to put the sail cover on without having to modify it and is also easier to raise the sail that way.
Haven't had a problem with mast slapping so far, just keep the lines tight.

Mike

[Craig Illman]

Mike - I have some EZ-Jacks that are rigged similar to your picture. I must need lesser stretch line, because at over about 12-15 kts, the lines bounce against the mast. Even with bungee cords pulling them toward the shrouds, they still slap quite a bit. I dropped them last week to keep the liveaboards from getting too annoyed during the next few months. Otherwise, for short handed sailing, they certainly make life easier.

Craig

[Stu Jackson]

ere are two previous comments on lazy jacks:

http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,1037.0.html

http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,3150.0.html

[waterdog]

Mike:

How high up the mast is the cheek block relative to the spreaders?

Steve

[Craig Illman]

Steve - Mine sit just under the spreaders.

Craig

[Rick Johnson]

Mine is 6 ft above the spreaders, but I'll admit you've got to watch that the main halyard does not get caught behind it.  I went with Garhauer cheek blocks but I think something smaller would have been better.

Cheers

[Ron Hill]

Guys : Look in Projects!  I made my own lazy jacks.  The original one were made in 1988(about) and lasted until last year when I made some new ones using the same 20yearold measurements. No holes drilled in the mast!!  A thought

[Hawk]

Thanks for eveyone's input. I'll keep the points in mind as I consider the options.
Tom

[Mike and Joanne Stimmler]

Mine are just under the spreader as well, sorry, I should have shown the spreaders on the drawing.
The line was stayset x I think. It was on sale at the time for 40% off at WM.
Another thought is to use shroud cleats, like the ones used on flag pennant halyards to keep the line away from the mast if thats a problem. I usually don't have winds above 10 knots at the marina so mine may slap in higher winds.

Mike

[Hawk]

I have decided to go with Lazy Jacks but now, "topping lift or no topping lift", that is the question.
Stu attached a link above to a thread discussing this question from 2006 which is helpful. Any updated comments though?
My preference is to remove it as I tend to stow the main halyard at the aft end of the boom anyway, but..............?

[Ted Pounds]

If you've got a rigid vang then ditch the topping lift.     Like you I would use the halyard to support the boom and take the load off the vang.

[Ron Hill]

Guys & Susan : If you have a rigid Vang, then the only thing the topping lift does is to rub the leach (roach) of the mainsail and cause unnecessary wear !!    A thought