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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Doyle Stackpack

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vholmstrom
1st Mate

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USA
51 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/06/2011 : 13:11:16

Just before Christmas, we took delivery of our new C250 WK. Oprions included wheel steering, teak and holley sole, cockpit cushions, cruising package, and canvas package. We also added an electric bilge pump, Garmin GPSMap 541S with built in sounder and in-hull transducer, and a VHF radio.

I would like to thank members of this forum for providing valuable information while I was in the boat buying process. Hopefully I equiped it properly for sailing on the Indian River (ICW).

I am currently considering adding a Doyle Stackpack to the main. I have also looked at the Dutchman and other lazyjack systems. Since I singlehandle much of the time, I need something to simplify dropping and covering the mainsail. Does anyone have any experience with the Doyle Stackpack or any advice on mainsail handling systems?

Thanks again,
Vic

Vic & Thelma Holmstrom
2011 C250 MKII WK #997
Satellite Beach, FL

Edited by - on

KD4AO
Navigator

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USA
202 Posts

Response Posted - 01/06/2011 : 13:18:34

I had the Stackpack on my 89 Catalina 27 and absolutley loved it. It makes stowing the main very easy.

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Dkn420
Captain

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USA
298 Posts

Response Posted - 01/07/2011 : 07:51:29

Stackpack is great idea, have used them on charter boats, Sailrite also has a kit if you feel "handy" in the area of sewing.

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 01/07/2011 : 14:10:21

Sounds like a sweet boat! I'm anxious to hear about your Stackpack or other solution. We always sail as a couple but dropping and flaking the sails is getting to be a bit of a chore, especially in wndy situations. Please post your findings with photos. Thanks.

Edited by - on

johnsonp
Admiral

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USA
606 Posts

Response Posted - 01/11/2011 : 18:33:26

vholmstrom
Some thoughts from David
Disclaimer - I work for Dutchman.

The Dutchman sail flaking system works fine on the Catalina 42. We have systems installed on much larger yachts, including the 90' Nirvana. We have a small fleet of Hanses and all have Dutchmans (of course!), including our 47.

There are several issues that can cause problems with a Dutchman working properly. First and foremost is the construction of the mainsail and the layout of the Dutchman. The Catalina 42 has a P (luff) dimension of approximately 46'. Slides should be no less than 32" and no more than 44" apart, which means that the sail should have 13 to 17 equally spaced slides. The 42 has an E (foot) dimension approximately 15.5' and should have three vertical control lines. When I design a layout for a sailmaker, I keep the control lines no more than 5' apart. A two line system would result in 6' between lines and wouldn't flake well. Our design service is free to sailmakers, but not all sailmakers avail themselves of it. When replacing your mainsail, request a copy of the Dutchman layout for it from your sailmaker.

The adjustment of the Dutchman is straight forward. The tabs at the bottom of the sail should be vertical but not too tight, with a few inches of play. On a windless morning, raise your mainsail and get at least a couple of boat lengths away and look at the position of the topping lift clamps. They must be HIGHER than the upper most fairleads by at least six inches. If they are lower, there will be too much slack in the control line when the sail is lowered and the sail will slide off the boom. I put a layout on our Facebook page (Dutchman Sailing Accessories) that illustrates this.

The control lines on the Catalina 42 are UV resistant 500 pound test monofilament. Weed whacker line is not. You can order enough to replace all three of the Catalina 42's control lines for $29 from us or from any sailmaker that installs Dutchman systems.

When lowering the mainsail, it will flake best if the sail is luffing a bit. You do not have to be head to wind, although it flakes better if the sail falls quickly. This is a function of your sail track system. If being head to wind is what it takes for the sail to come down quickly then that's what you should do.

A properly designed and adjusted Dutchman system that results in a nicely flaked mainsail is really a thing of beauty to this old sailor. If anyone is having issues with their Dutchman, please call me at 203-838-0375 or email me at david@mvbinfo.com.

paulj

Edited by - on

vholmstrom
1st Mate

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USA
51 Posts

Response Posted - 01/20/2011 : 16:28:49

Randy,

We decided to go with the Doyle Stackpack complete with lazy jacks and their membrane that attaches our mainsail to the stackpack cover. We have a new main and feel the complete stackpack will give us slightly better sail shape than just their their cradle cover, since the membrane pulls the windward side of the sail cover against the mainsail while sailing. The cost of the complete stackpack retrofit to our existing mainsail is 880.00 plus about 200.00 installation, unless you can install yourself.

They also offer a cradle cover with lazy jacks option. It is less expensive, but requires that your mainsail be converted to loose fitted. Since the cradle cover and mainsail remain separate, it is a better option if you have an older main or want to replace the main or cradle cover at different times. This is the system used by the Moorings fleet. I found this option on-line at Kelly Hanson sails for 605.00 assuming that the 1100 madel for up to an 11 foot boom will fit. http://www.kellyhansonsails.com/apps/webstore/products/category/184203

We just ordered our stackpack and will reply with comments once we get it in about a month. Hope this helps,
Vic

Edited by - on

vholmstrom
1st Mate

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USA
51 Posts

Response Posted - 03/09/2011 : 13:48:59

Yesterday, I took our C250WK sailing for the first time since having our Doyle Stackpack, 2 triple clutches, and 2 4-way deck organizers installed. The 4 starboard clutches contain (from outboard to inboard) the main halyard, reef 1 tack, reef 1 clew, and the outhaul. The 4 port clutches contain (from outboard to inboard) the topping lift (halyard style), reef 2 tack, reef 2 clew, and the jib halyard. I followed the advice of several forum members recommending 2-line reefing.

We were sailing on the Indian River between the Pineda Causway and the route 192 bridge in Melbourne, FL. The temperature was 76 degrees and the wind was from the east (beam reach) at 10-15 knots. It was a great day for sailing.

My wife brought us into the wind and I was able to raise the main easily whie watching to be sure none of the battans got caught on the lazy jacks, which did not happen. I spent the first hour or so connecting the reefing lines and adjusting the lazy jacks. With the main fully raised, the membrane attached to the sail pulled the sailcover against the mainsail and the lazy jacks slackened. I was very happy with the sail shape and that there was no flutter from the sail cover. I then eased the halyard, pulled in the first reef (first tack then clew), and then had to ease the topping lift. With the first reef in the membrane does not pull in the sail cover as much. Since the extra sail stays inside the sail cover when reefed, there is no need (or no way) to tie it off. I the shook out the reef and we continued under full sail.

The best advantage of the Stackpack came at the end of the day. After furling in the jib, my wife brought us into the wind. I released the main halyard and due in part to my earlier adjustments, the sail cover opened and the lazy jacks tightened automatically. The main fell into the cover and the sail partially flaked itself. I did have to go to the mast to help the mainsail finish falling as some sail slugs stuck. I then finished straighening the sail in the cover and zipped it closed from front to back. Then I raised the topping lift to take the tension off of the lazy jacks.

There are a few things to learn and adjust when using a stackpack, but overall it makes reefing and putting away the mainsail much easier. It also has a very neat appearance at the dock.

Edited by - vholmstrom on 03/09/2011 13:50:11

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