So I was excited about making a boom bag with lazy jacks to the top of the bag. The rigger reckons that boom bags are crap because when you're reefing you can't see what youre doing - can't see the reefing cringles or something.

Anyone have any experience reefing with a boom bag?

I suppose it's no big deal if I don't have a boom bag - just have to chuck a few sail ties around it.

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DrRog said...

So I was excited about making a boom bag with lazy jacks to the top of the bag. The rigger reckons that boom bags are crap because when you're reefing you can't see what youre doing - can't see the reefing cringles or something.

Anyone have any experience reefing with a boom bag?

I suppose it's no big deal if I don't have a boom bag - just have to chuck a few sail ties around it.

I am thinking of boom bag with lazy jacks for my boat eventually . They to me tidy things up

May find something here Doc www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Sailing/General/Reefing-fitting-on-boom/

no problem , for reefing and a way easier to drop and flake pack up . especially if your sail is crispy laminate.

I've only used slab reefing with the bag, works fine. However I'm guessing you would drop/loosen your lazy jack lines when using reefing tie downs Or pass them through the slit at the bottom of the bag.

The occasional annoyance I get is the sail batons getting stuck in the lazy jack lines when hoisting the main.

Just went through this exercise and decided not to put on a boom bag but stay with a removable cover.

Reason: I use a boom awning and if I have a boom bag I would not be able to use it as the boom bag construction limits the ability to take all the lazy jack lines forward to the mast and so allow the boom awning to be put in place.

Then to confirm this decision, on my sail from Seal Rocks to Laurieton last Saturday, I found that with putting in a reef access is necessary to put in the couple of sail ties to keep the sail under control.

Now I could have added zip on awnings on each side but the cost to do this blew through the roof!

What I liked was that I could continue using my existing systems and the cost for the new cover was OK!

Best money I ever spent on a yacht (and I've spent a LOT) was a lazy bag, made life so much easier in every way. Hard to think of a downside. Get one

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benoz said...
Best money I ever spent on a yacht (and I've spent a LOT) was a lazy bag, made life so much easier in every way. Hard to think of a downside. Get one

+10

such a useful thing to have
it does'nt cause any issue with reefing, just make sure there is a hole in each side for reefing line.
if made well, it will be the best thing you can spend money on

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nswsailor said...
Just went through this exercise and decided not to put on a boom bag but stay with a removable cover.

Reason: I use a boom awning and if I have a boom bag I would not be able to use it as the boom bag construction limits the ability to take all the lazy jack lines forward to the mast and so allow the boom awning to be put in place.

Then to confirm this decision, on my sail from Seal Rocks to Laurieton last Saturday, I found that with putting in a reef access is necessary to put in the couple of sail ties to keep the sail under control.

Now I could have added zip on awnings on each side but the cost to do this blew through the roof!

What I liked was that I could continue using my existing systems and the cost for the new cover was OK!

Come on Phil, on Dulcamara I have a boom bag and lazy jacks and putting the awning up is no different to having lazy jacks without the boom bag. Your a single hander, and I can't see any reason why you wouldn't want to make it as easy as possible to sail single handed. The lazy jack lines are adjustable, so if you want to put up an awning, you slacken them and lay them on the boom bag, if the sail is zipped into it, it won't go anywhere.

As for reefing, if you use a jiffy reef single line reef system, you can get the sail reefed in seconds. Your boom bag will be a little slack, so with the sail up, so you can reach inside it to fit your little ties.

For cost, Hood Sails quoted me $380 for the tie on cover and $450 for the boom bag, plus the 4mm line to tie it up. No brainer for cost and ease of use......

This is on a Top Hat 25, so costs may vary on larger yachts of course......... Sorry about the poor photo quality.

Once you have used lazy jacks and a boom bag you can not go back!

They transform your sailing experience, especially if you have full battens. When sailing you ease the lazy jacks and the weight of the plastic tube along the upper edge of the bag lower the bag enough for you to get a good view of the reefing points from the cockpit. When lowering the main just haul the topping lift in a bit and the lazy jacks. If you have a soft sail you may have to leave the cockpit when lowering the main to pull the sail into the bag. Full battens they mostly just land straight into the bag as your nose into the wind.

I leave the three reefing lines rove at all times. As others have mentioned, this is the best money you can spend on your yacht.

Hmmm. To clarify, I have 3 reefs with each line running through their own turning block all on the same side of the boom. There are small reefing lines running along the sail to tie under the boom for each of the 3 reefs. Seems I would need holes in the bag on each of the lines running to each block, then a bunch of holes through which I would tie the reefing lines for each reef. That's a lot of holes.

Unless the sail does not need to be held to the boom with these small reefing lines when using a lazy bag? But I imagine that close-hauled the wind would be running down through the bag. Or does that not matter? Problem is I've never sailed with one of these things.

Like nswsailor I use an awning a lot. As she is a centre cockpit this is critical. But I don't see why the bag construction would not allow you to bring the lazy jacks forward to the mast? What's the problem here, nsw?

I should add that all 3 of my mainsails are full batten loose foot sails with three reefs. When reefed progressively the sail stays in the sail cover. There is no need to leave the cockpit to add sail ties.

I've just replaced my very old boom bag with a new 'Hyde Sails' stack away bag; refer link.
http://www.hydesails.com.au/Stack-Away-Cover.html

I like to drop the bag when on a long sailing so I use the full main. This system comes with clips which allow you to roll the bag up and clip it against the boom.
No problem reefing with the bag rolled.

It only tales 30secs to unclip it and pull the bag up into position when you are ready to drop the sail.
It costed a little more but worth it.

Ok Ok you guys, I'm convinced!

Just spoke to my sail maker and changed the order for a BOOM BAG.

Only condition is that the SWMBO mustn't known about it!!

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SandS said...
no problem , for reefing and a way easier to drop and flake pack up . especially if your sail is crispy laminate.

I second this. Reefing is easy peasy with a boom bag and lazy jacks.

Besides, there is not that much you need to see when reefing, other than checking that everything is coming down smoothly. IMO, the most important thing is mark your halyard so you know when to stop winching!

bags are the way to go.

When I made mine, I also added clips to attach the jacks onto, great if you want to race also.

My only other suggestion, sometimes we'll let the topping lift off too much when sailing, then when it's time to drop, the bag can end up taking the boom weight and sail load: make sure the bags tough enough, and has sufficient no. of slides in the track to spread the load. ( or use your topping lift properly)

My main is loose footed and full battened. I am going to turn my near new sail cover upside down and have sail slugs sewn on with straps in way of the lazy jack points and have the cover trimmed to suit battens etc to turn it into a boom bag.

The idea being that the sail can be contained in the bag and slid off the boom anytime in a complete package. It may require batten removal but if itis going to the sail loft you would do that anyway.

I never thought of that but I reckon you just saved me a grand on the transat Cisco!

What is happening? Consensus on seabreeze???

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DrRog said...
What is happening? Consensus on seabreeze???

Negatory my friend, this started when some poor misguided soul told this poor man that a lazy bag was a bad idea.

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benoz said...
I never thought of that but I reckon you just saved me a grand on the transat Cisco!

Just a thought here and there.

Thanks to everyone for your input. I have lots of projects to prioritise so I think i will get lazy jacks to the boom, then make a bag myself later. Need access to an industrial sewing machine first anyway.

My wife was wondering why there isn't a sailors' cooperative with expensive, rarely-used things like that in a shed somewhere. Seems like a good idea, especially in larger metro areas.

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DrRog said...
Thanks to everyone for your input. I have lots of projects to prioritise so I think i will get lazy jacks to the boom, then make a bag myself later. Need access to an industrial sewing machine first anyway.

My wife was wondering why there isn't a sailors' cooperative with expensive, rarely-used things like that in a shed somewhere. Seems like a good idea, especially in larger metro areas.

Maybe the Grey shed or what ever its called

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DrRog said...
Thanks to everyone for your input. I have lots of projects to prioritise so I think i will get lazy jacks to the boom, then make a bag myself later. Need access to an industrial sewing machine first anyway.

My wife was wondering why there isn't a sailors' cooperative with expensive, rarely-used things like that in a shed somewhere. Seems like a good idea, especially in larger metro areas.

One of the best sail covers I have seen my mate picked up dumpster diving at the CYCA! Beautifully made and fully lined. He will have to cut it down to suit his 38 footer.

Domestic sewing machines are more than adequate to sew acrylic. Plenty of designs about and plenty of videos. Just ensure you use the correct thread that can handle UV. My next one will be in straight stitches. Zigzag seems to suffer from abrasion after a few years. Sailrite sell kits too. Couple of videos to peruse. First one is a bit long.


Watch this one several times full screen to ensure you get the measurements correct!


Damn what were we talking about.

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Ramona said...

DrRog said...
Thanks to everyone for your input. I have lots of projects to prioritise so I think i will get lazy jacks to the boom, then make a bag myself later. Need access to an industrial sewing machine first anyway.

My wife was wondering why there isn't a sailors' cooperative with expensive, rarely-used things like that in a shed somewhere. Seems like a good idea, especially in larger metro areas.

One of the best sail covers I have seen my mate picked up dumpster diving at the CYCA! Beautifully made and fully lined. He will have to cut it down to suit his 38 footer.

Domestic sewing machines are more than adequate to sew acrylic. Plenty of designs about and plenty of videos. Just ensure you use the correct thread that can handle UV. My next one will be in straight stitches. Zigzag seems to suffer from abrasion after a few years. Sailrite sell kits too. Couple of videos to peruse. First one is a bit long.

Watch this one several times full screen to ensure you get the measurements correct!

Damn what were we talking about.

Nice pair of sail bags Ramona