As me and the Missus are...er..senior citizens we need to make life a little easier as we go along. Now we have just started this sailing bizzo and really enjoy it albeit only on the headsail up to now. Hauling up the mainsail is not so daunting, its dropping it and folding it up onto the boom. Lazy Jacks seem to be the answer but are they the trouble free item that I think they are??. The big flash boat just up the road from me has Lazy Jacks incorporating a sail cover, which I like the idea of, but is it all worth it??. We like the idea of trying to master the art of efficient sailing (don't laugh) even if it is only on Pittwater. Do Lazy Jacks get in the way of anything or is it all good??.

hi sam we wouldnt be without ours, they make dropping the sail real easy
we also have a boom bag with a zipper ,simply bring her into the wind
and let the main halyard go and she drops straight into the sail bag
with the help of the lazyjacks as the guide ,then zipp her up all done in
less than a minute ,too easy cheers ray

Yep, they are good. Especially for when you are short handed or the conditions are a bit rolly. You can drop the main and it stays reasonable tidy until you're back in the marina or anchored up. If I don't tie mine back out of the way (I need to go forward to do this) when hoisting the main (all done from the cockpit) the battens (in the main sail) sometimes get snagged in the Lazy Jack Lines if I don't keep the boat directly into the wind. Not really a big issue.

My original main sail cover laid over the top and clipped under the sail (above the boom). The Lazy Jacks passed around the bottom of the boom and were held in location by S/S Saddles. I now have a main sail cover that unzips at the top and the Lazy Jack lines tie on to tabs at either side of the sail cover.

I normally drop the main before crossing the bar on the way back to the marina and spending as little time forward of the cockpit in these sometimes rolly conditions reduces the chance of falling over/off.

Sure makes life easy for me, myself and I when we go out together.

Difficult to say really. They may not be worth the expense or bother for some but others they will. My last yacht didn't have them. My next one will.

If you think by NOT having them, and lowering the main is a pain, and you won't go sailing, then they WILL be worth having.

I can not imagine sailing with out them. Will transform your sailing experience, especially with full battens. Copy the big flash boat nearby!

Yes, Lazyjacks are well worth it. My current boat is the first boat I have had with them and I wonder why I never had them before. Mine are built into the sailcover on the boom but in the event I take the sail cover off there are points on the boom in the right places to just reattach the lazyjacks directly to the boom.

I am also a senior citizen and like to make my sailing times more enjoyable and this is just one of the many labor and time saving things we can all use.

I hope to keep sailing for many years to come and I do a lot of single and short handed long coastal trips so anything that is usefull and makes life easier on the water is a bonus.

They are not hard to set up and you could do it yourself for under $100.

Regards, Rick.

Ditto for all the above. They were the greatest and cheapest improvement we made. I'm tight so kept the original sail cover and the lazy jacks are mounted to saddles under the boom. I have left the l-jacks long enough so that they can be pulled down to the gooseneck and the cover wraps it all up.

The l-jacks combined with my Raymarine autopilot and Madman Marine Remote Control key fob mean I can sail solo with ease. The remote means even with a wind change I can adjust course while pulling the main up. Noice!

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samsturdy said..
The big flash boat just up the road from me has Lazy Jacks incorporating a sail cover,

Sam, I had Lazy Jacks and them this mob convinced me to incorporate a boom bag as well!

Best move I ever made.

Whoow! That is what l call overwhelming appreciation.
100%

The truth is, l was thinking about it ever since l had my own boat but because of the racing fraternity l am involved with frowns upon lazy jacks, l rejected the idea. You cruising people unanimously recommend it and l think you are right. For cruising. And you might have convinced me too.

Would you be able to publish a drawing of a basic design, the $100 one if possible. May be a few fotos as well.
The boom part of it always looked like a 'snake pit' to me compared to a nicely flaked main sail.

Some one here put this up a while back

This one has the tides sail track Donk saw at the wooden boat show

yes

That guy talks like a robot! I need a new zipper that's mondays job!

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southace said..
That guy talks like a robot! I need a new zipper that's mondays job!

to many back packers South Ace

When we bought our Top Hat in 2009, it had lazy jacks and a throw over sail cover that had to be tied on. It was still a bit of an ordeal. Packing up the boat back then took about 30 minutes, when you include tying up the sail, putting out the bird net and a few other bits and pieces.

I replaced the throw over cover for a zipped boom bag, attached to the lazy jacks with a custom made bag from Hood in Brookvale. I can now pack the boat up on the mooring in 10 minutes, meaning I get 20 more minutes enjoyment on the water. The bag was about 20% more than a throw over cover, with battens and tie points for the lazy jacks.

Don't even think about it, just get one. You won't regret it.

This is mine. 20mm plastic tube along the top holds the shape. The zip only come back 120cm from the mast. The rest is open and is just a narrow gap with the lazy jacks hauled tight. The front is open so wind blows straight through. Plenty of youtube videos on how to make them. Sailrite site sells kits and offers plans but its best to download one of the free sets of plans. Use acrylic canvass and I would suggest straight stitching to avoid abrasion. Household machine will do the job easily.

[URL=.html] [/URL]

OK. Thanks to all. If you've managed to convince sirgallivant then you've certainly convinced me. One question though regarding the fitting of the pulleys up the mast. Some boats have pulleys on the mast just under the spreader and others half way along the spreader itself. The latter gives a 'wider' aspect to the Lazy Jacks at the mast, is this 'better'. If I'm going to rig Lazy Jacks I would like to get it right first time. Your input is so great, but no fighting over 'who knows best'.

Hello Samsturdy, one reason to put the pulleys half way along the spreaders is to keep the ropes from clanging up against the mast and thus mast making noise (or wear and tear). One of my tasks when returning the boat to the marina is to tie all the halyards etc back from anything they can hit against. The live-aboards beside me certainly appreciate this and so will you is you ever sleep on your boat. Mine is setup this way.

Below is a picture of how the lazy Jacks were on my boat when I first purchased it. Maybe it will help.

Your boat, so it's always you who knows best.

I followed my riggers advice out from the mast. Its worked perfectly for me.

Is it important to be able to slacken the lazy jacks or not? and why?

They have to be slackened to allow the sail to shape. Otherwise you effectively have half a dozen topping lifts holding the boom up and sqaushing the sail shape.

In my case also important to allow the lazy jacks to be pulled down to the gooseneck and be out of the way.

Probably more reasons as well, siliconing the pulley if used?

1. Allows you to retention them depending were the boom is sitting
2. Allows you to slacken them off a bit when under sail so they don't interfere with the shape of the main
3. Allows you to pull them out of the way when hoisting the main so they don't snag the battens (full or leech)
4. Allows you to pull them out of the way if you want to set a tarp up over the boom for shade when anchored up.
5. Allows easier maintenance
6. Blar blar blar...

As you can see, I think having them adjustable is a good thing

Righto... I'm starting to see the subtle aspects of this venture. I think it all sounds just the job. Thanks for all the input guys, I can see exactly what I need and I think the benefit will be excellent.

By the way, one thing I forgot to mention is I think my boat was set up for racing by a previous owner and the cabin top has just about everything you can buy at Whitworths bolted to it, so it is a definate trip hazard to an oldie like me. So if the Lazy Jacks reduce the time I have to be stumbling about the top of the cabin then the safer it will be for yours truly. Thanks everyone.

Your not suppose to dance on the Cabin top Sam Sturdy

Lazy jacks - l am convinced - look like snake pits.

Also, I think, they increase windage high up, one might use it as a third reef packed up. To add, it might make reefing difficult as one could not get to the horn easily. For this reason one has to dance on the top of the cabin anyway.

Just a thought here, l hope when you are sailing and dancing on the cabin top you always wear a harness and clip on with a tether?!

In high winds - l think - it is bound to cause grief sooner or later flapping around, catching something, interfering with the running back stays, reefing lines, boom uphaul and whatever problems high winds could conjure up.

Please pick my argument to bits, convince me of my futile ways of sticking to nicely flaked hand packed mains.

Just to add, l am not trying to criticize lazy jacks and it's use, l am just worried, if something goes wrong it will go wrong horribly, where the way out of it might make one think he never ever had one installed.
I read all comments twice and l have to admit you are all fans of it.
Whoever l would like to hear of opinions critical of lazy jacks, so to see the other side of the coin.

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sirgallivant said..
Lazy jacks - l am convinced - look like snake pits.

Also, I think, they increase windage high up, one might use it as a third reef packed up. To add, it might make reefing difficult as one could not get to the horn easily. For this reason one has to dance on the top of the cabin anyway.

Just a thought here, l hope when you are sailing and dancing on the cabin top you always wear a harness and clip on with a tether?!

In high winds - l think - it is bound to cause grief sooner or later flapping around, catching something, interfering with the running back stays, reefing lines, boom uphaul and whatever problems high winds could conjure up.

Please pick my argument to bits, convince me of my futile ways of sticking to nicely flaked hand packed mains.

Just to add, l am not trying to criticize lazy jacks and it's use, l am just worried, if something goes wrong it will go wrong horribly, where the way out of it might make one think he never ever had one installed.
I read all comments twice and l have to admit you are all fans of it.
Whoever l would like to hear of opinions critical of lazy jacks, so to see the other side of the coin.

There is no flapping around with mine. I ease off the lazy jacks after raising the main. The plastic conduit hold the sail cover top roughly parallel with the boom. Mines open at the front so there is very little drag. All my mainsails are fully battened and when reefing [all done from cockpit] the sail sits down fairly tidily. When I return to my mooring in an area close by I haul the lazy jacks tight along with the topping lift. Turn the boat in a circle and as she passes into the wind release the halyard [after ensuring its laid out to run free in the cockpit] The weight of the full battens brings the sail down into the sail cover. I then climb out of the cockpit and wander forward to snug down the last couple of feet. It does not matter how fresh the wind is its always hassle free.
If I ever need a new boom I would construct an open U shaped boom [strip cedar/carbon/epoxy] and have the sail drop down into this with just an acrylic canvas top. The lazy jacks attaching directly to the sides of the U section.

The u shape boon would be a good rain catcher aswell
But I like that idea

If you are worried about windage when racing, or longer passages, and getting access when reefing, the bag I made has the lazyjacks unclippable.

With solid full length battens in the bag that act as the 'shoulders', its simple and neat to unclip the lines and tie the bag sides below the foot of the main.

My only other suggestions are to make sure your bags long enough in zipper length to allow for the roach of the main, and ensure your slab reefing lines can exit properly at the end of the boom.

Must admit the only time I dance on the cabin top is when I stub my toe on one of the winches or fairleads or any one of the myriad of objects up there. Sirgallivant there's no problem with being anti-lazy jacks, it's interesting hearing from someone who's not taking their medication. LOL.

The only criticism I've heard of lazy jacks is that on long hauls or very long periods the pulleys can create wear spots on the sail. Easily fixed though with options being elastics pulling the pulleys out towards the stays. Wrapping the pulley or using an eye splice with thimble or the new ronstan single piece pulley - sheave-less pulley.