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Lazy Jacks System for Main Sail C-25

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kwalsh
1st Mate

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USA
33 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/23/2019 : 14:09:31

Been researching in the Search Archives for discussions on economical and efficient lazy jacks or sail pack systems and didn't find any.

Has anyone had experience with installing a system on their Catalina 25 to help keep the main from spilling over everywhere when lowering it from the CP?

Over the winter we installed the rigging equipment necessary to raise and lower the main from the CP, but find it necessary to jump on deck to gather the main and tie it down to the boom.
The situations we find ourselves in rarely make it easy to quickly gather and tie the main to the boom and return to the CP. And then there is the sail cover once back at the dock.

Thanks for your suggestions and comments!

Kevin Walsh
Segelboot
1984 C25, TR/SK
Sail No. 4433

kwalsh
1st Mate

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USA
33 Posts

Response Posted - 08/23/2019 : 15:05:58

Well, after I sent the Post, I went to CD and found their Lazy Jack system that I had forgotten about.

So if there are any other suggestions or home remedies or critiques of the CD offering, please send.

Many thanks!

Kevin Walsh
Segelboot
1984 C25, TR/SK
Sail No. 4433

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5231 Posts

Response Posted - 08/23/2019 : 15:06:14

I keep a strap of nylon webbing handy with Velcro ends to quickly flake and wrap the mainsail. It�s stupid simple for me singlehanded. I point into the wind, drop sail, step on the bridge and galley edge, grab the sail and flake it out. I have the webbing strap wrapped on the slide poptop handle and give it a quick wrap. Later, while at the dock,I finish the job and put on the sail cover.
I�ve dealt with lazy jacks and in my humble opinion they make your life more difficult when the going gets tough.

Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain � Milford, CT

Good Times
1st Mate

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45 Posts

Response Posted - 08/23/2019 : 16:07:40

HomeDepot and such have velcro straps of considerable length to hold their carpet rolls together; they have plenty of extras and often are willing to part with some of them.

I copied an idea from a seasoned sailer of the Great Lakes: I put what he called �ears� on the boom about 2/3 back from the mast. One has to bend a pice of aluminum stock of about 15� x 3/4� x 1/4� or tubing of about 15� x 1/2� into a shape that resembles a large U to conform with the lower half of the boom and each vertical section is bend outwards at about 30 degree; these outward bend section need to be just long enough that they will hold a piece of pvc pipe of about 15� in place. Three rivets through the round section will hold that piece attached to the boom. In essence you will wind up with a boom that has two pvc tubes sticking out at about 30 degree. The exact placement (2/3 from the mast) or the degrees are not important and can be changed to fit the existing hardware along your boom. That V- shape arrangement will catch the sail just fine when you point into the wind and drop the main. Once the main is tight down remove the tubes and stick them under the sail ties. I have a loos footed main so my tubes are secured with a short line wrapped around the boom.
I leave my �ears� up all the time while sailing and never had any interference of any sort from them but of course they can just as easily removed.
Sorry, no picture at the moment...

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1889 Posts

Response Posted - 08/23/2019 : 16:32:20

I haven't tried lazyjacks.

The most immediate problem I have with the lowered mainsail is it blocking my view fwd. Having a bimini helps with that.

Like Bruce, I keep webbing sail ties handy. I tried the ones with a loop sewn in one end. They worked OK but still required more time and concentration than I would like.

I now use several of these webbing straps:

[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013M5QUZ8]

with quick buckles, adjusters, and available in a 15 colors. I use a different color for each sail tie location, adjusted to the correct length.

� Leon Sisson

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3992 Posts

Response Posted - 08/23/2019 : 16:35:04

My boat came with lazy jack's. I didn't care for them and finally removed them. When raising the sail you really have to time the fluttering headboard or it will jam between the mast and the lazy jack line where they attach to the mast.Then you have to go to the mast and pull down on the sail to unjam it then try again. Next turn off was in order to put a conventional sail cover on you need to slacken both jack lines in order to pull the lines to the mast then reset them each time you go sailing. Or have a custom cover made with slots for the jack lines.My Bimini catches the sail when it gets lowered and keeps it out of the cockpit. I might give Jack's a try again if I didn't have the Bimini.

Scott-"IMPULSE"87'C25/SR/WK/Din.#5688
Sailing out of Glen Cove,L.I Sound

SKS
Navigator

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USA
161 Posts

Response Posted - 08/23/2019 : 17:18:54

Have I oversimplified something ??
I use bungee cords with hooks on the end.

"Lady E" 1986 Catalina 25: Fin Keel, Standard Rig, Inboard M12 Diesel, Sail No. 5339
Sailing out of Norwalk Cove Marina, Connecticut

Lee Panza
Captain

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USA
465 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2019 : 13:19:44

Lazy jacks aren't necessary for many people, but they certainly are useful for some. I usually sail solo, and getting the main down and secured by myself can be troublesome. But that's because I'm usually trying to do it in 20 - 25 kn winds and 3' chop - a typical Summer afternoon on SF Bay. Under those conditions it can be difficult to keep the boat motoring straight into the wind with just the auto tiller-pilot, and even when it does it's bucking like a wild stallion!

The other reason lazy jacks can be important is to be able to drop the main quickly in an emergency (like crew overboard) and not have it spilling over the side. I maintain pretty much a minimal sag in the topping lift so I don't need to deal with it when I need to dump the main in a hurry.

But I wanted to minimize the complications when I lower or raise the mast, and I wanted to be able to deploy and stow the lazy jacks while underway without having to go to the mast. So I developed a system that I can raise or lower from the cockpit. The coils of loose line get bundled in velcro loops attached to the boom (although one of these days I'll sew up a couple of small pouches instead), and the sections attached to the boom can be unclipped from the halyards).

Here's the general layout:

These dimensions allow the lower legs to lie along the boom, with the halyard nearly parallel to the mast, when the system is stowed in the down position (the halyards lie far enough away from the mast to avoid slapping against it in the wind). The black circles are small SS rings (I'm intending to replace them with low-friction rings). The yellow halyard passes through check blocks on the mast and clips to the upper ring, and the turquoise down-hall line passes through a cheek block on the boom. Both lines pass through pad eyes along the boom, and both lines have clam-cleats on the boom to secure them in the up or down position. The excess portions of both lines get bundled and secured on the boom over the cockpit, so the system can be deployed or stowed from there.

Every time I sail I deploy them, and every time I bundle the sail on the boom I stow them so they are out of the way next time I raise the main. As has been pointed out, lazy jacks can make raising the sail more difficult, as the battens tend to get caught in them if the boom isn't lying exactly dead downwind.

But, for me at least, having lazy jacks is high on my list of "improvements-I'm-glad-I-made." Pretty much right up there with a topping lift led to the cockpit.

The trouble with a destination - any destination, really - is that it interrupts The Journey.

Lee Panza
SR/SK #2134
San Francisco Bay
(Brisbane, CA)

Edited by - Lee Panza on 08/25/2019 13:42:49

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3474 Posts

Response Posted - 08/27/2019 : 04:38:49

I use Dyneema line cause it is really slick, and just climb up on the cabin top and run a marlinspike hitch around the boom and all the way back to the the backstay to secure the main.

it always feels pretty awkward and the footing is loosy goosey but you have plenty to hang onto with your arms around the boom, and it really is quick when you get the hang of it.

Releasing the main is easy also, you pull on the line and it slides out all at once.

Ray in Atlanta, Ga.
"Lee Key" '84 Catalina 25
Standard Rig / Fin Keel

kwalsh
1st Mate

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USA
33 Posts

Response Posted - 08/27/2019 : 09:57:34

Great diagram, Lee. We�ll look at it when down to the boat this weekend.
All good suggestions, we appreciate them very much, keep them coming.

Kevin Walsh
Segelboot
1984 C25, TR/SK
Sail No. 4433

Boomeroo
Navigator

Members Avatar

Australia
128 Posts

Response Posted - 09/01/2019 : 23:40:10

Hi, I have the CD system and it is great but I will modify now to similar to Lees . 3 capture line are better than the 2 on the CD system . Controlling them from the cp helps to get them out of the way when sailing . Thanks for the diagram

Graeme Bishop boomeroo Australia
C25 SK

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