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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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need info to make a lazy jack system

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Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/23/2003 : 11:32:03

Hi folks,

I want to install lazy jacks on my boat before I put it in the water in mid april.
Considerations:
I will trailer sail it a couple of times a year
I don't want to have to modify my sailcover, ie. the system needs to be pulled back
I have lots of spare hardware left over from when I was going to install lazy jacks on my 22. The plan that was given to me used bungee cords, but I have since been told that bungee cords won't last a season in the sun.

I did do a search in our archives and didn't find much. I did look at the lazy jact setup in our tech tips section, but am confused as to whether or not you can pull it back when not in use and be able to use your sail cover.

I did see that Schaefer has a lazy jack kit available with a "pull back system" to get the lines back so you can use your cover.

OK then.

I would welcome suggestions. I don't want to spend 180 bucks for a kit when I have lots of blocks and line availaable. I do want to pull the system back.

I have the original main, without full battens. Someday full battens may be great, but have run out of boat units. an autopilot, then furler are next.

Thanks

Frank Gloss
89WK/TR

Edited by - on

eric.werkowitz
Captain

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USA
283 Posts

Response Posted - 03/23/2003 : 15:02:02

Frank,

Reference your comment about bungie cord in the sun. I believe someone in the "Things that Work" column of SAIL magazine said that rubbing sunblock on bungie cord protected it for multiple years of in-sun use. Haven't tried it, but when I put my lazy jack together, I plan to.

Eric Werkowitz
C25 #4969

Edited by - on

ronrryan
Admiral

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USA
561 Posts

Response Posted - 03/23/2003 : 17:56:16

Years ago I had a catboat that had lazy jacks. I didnt install them--they were there on purchase. As I recall it had a pretty ordinary sailcover with hook and eyes or turn fasteners to close all along the bottom of the boom. The jacks came down and ran under the boom, and were not a terrible problem, just some tugging and wrenching to make things mostly smooth when the cover went on. Of course time (a lot of it ) may have dimmed my recollection---BUT, are you SURE you cant use your regular sailcover with the proposed lazyjacks? Good luck, either way (and for gods sake dont spend a unit and a half on new jacks when your ditty bag has all that good stuff in it)ron srsk #2343 Orion in SW FL

Edited by - on

jandrus
1st Mate

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USA
79 Posts

Response Posted - 03/23/2003 : 18:11:08

I built lazy jacks for my boat for about $40 - I think I got a deal on the line, don't remember. For boats in this size range you don't need anything all that complex.

I picked a spot halfway between the spreaders and the mast tip for the top attachment point. I attached a small cheek block on each side. At gooseneck level or thereabouts I put two small clam cleats. Light braided line runs up from the cleats, through the cheeks and hangs aft to form the top leg of the rig.

I took one small eye strap and mounted it to the bottom of the boom two thirds of the aft. I just looked at the sail to pick the exact spot. A similarly light line runs through the eyestrap, up each side of the boom, and up to small bullet blocks spliced to the ends of the upper legs, then down under the boom near the mast. The part of the line running under the boom is not afixed to the boom. This line is then spliced to itself - no reason a knot wouldn't work.

So - the tension in the thing is controlled at the cleats on the mast and the forward lower leg is self adjusting.

To stow the jacks for racing or whatever, slack the lines at the mast and the whole thing fall forward to lie along side the boom and tucks behind the reefing hooks at the gooseneck.

Took an hour to do.

Justin

c25 #1942 s/v tako kichi

Edited by - on

Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts

Response Posted - 03/23/2003 : 19:44:41

Don't know if you want to spend the money or not, but check out the [url="http://images.sailnet.com/dutchman/sailflaking/sfindex.htm"]DUTCHMAN SYSTEM[/url]. I saw it used on Tray's C-250 and I thought it was sensational.

Safe voyages,
Ben, FL s/v Chick-a-pea C250wk
<img src="http://www.members.aol.com:/benraye/pictures/fullsail.jpg" border=0>

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 03/23/2003 : 22:11:58

somehow I suspect that the Dutchman system doesn't lend itself very well to trailer sailing. Possibly even a lazy jack system either.

What say Ye wise and experienced ones?

Frank Gloss
89WK/TR

Edited by - on

DaleV
Deckhand

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8 Posts

Response Posted - 03/24/2003 : 14:54:36

I bought the one offered by Sail-Care and am pleased with it. It folds out of the way on the mast and you don't know you have it till you want to drop yor main.

SK/SR #4382

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 03/24/2003 : 15:41:46

I did an internet search for Sail-care and only got sites for cleaning sails.

who makes this product? Where on the net can I find it?

Thanks

Frank Gloss
89WK/TR

Edited by - on

ronrryan
Admiral

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USA
561 Posts

Response Posted - 03/24/2003 : 20:29:00

For petes sake guys: I do not want to sound like the ancient (cheap/frugal) mariner but fifty years ago all of this talk would have been handled out of the DITTY BAG of odds and ends/blocks/light line/thimbles etc that every sailor had, smelling of mold, marline, beeswax or whatever. NObody would have been talking of spending hundreds of dollars on something that was basically string, information, and ingenuity. I do not mean this as a perjorative, please understand, it is a different perspective, we had no money in those days and therefore it devolved upon each to use available items to reach a seamanlike objective. Do not fail to believe you can do the same! God bless, ron srsk #2343 Orion SW FL

Edited by - on

Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts

Response Posted - 03/25/2003 : 00:14:20

Yeah, I was a teenager once too! But now I've got a real job. <img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle> So what's a hole in the water good for? When I was nineteen I bought my first boat, a twenty-six foot gaff rigged double ender. It didn't have a cabin. And it didn't even have an engine, outboard or otherwise. But it did have eight oarlocks. And yes I did row it by my skinny 134 lbs (at that time) self. Crap, I just spent a hundred dollars on a clock because the cheap Wal*Mart one broke. Also decided to by some spreader lights. It seems that since I don't waste my money on wine and women any more there is some for myself.

Safe voyages,
Ben, FL s/v Chick-a-pea C250wk
<img src="http://www.members.aol.com:/benraye/pictures/fullsail.jpg" border=0>

Edited by - ben - fl on 03/25/2003 00:19:08

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 03/25/2003 : 07:12:30

The reason I'm looking for information on different systems is that I want to emulate them.

Besides, how else does our free market economy work? If someone wants to buy a kit, so be it.

Sometimes I evaluate a purchase/make it myself decision on many factors. Among them are how many hours will it take vs. how much I can earn in those same hours. Or, how much fun will this project be?

I'm not going to throw any stones on anyone who wants to make something themselves, or if they want to buy it, or if they yearn for the minimalist approach.

Sometimes I even give my money away to someone who needs it. So there.

Frank Gloss
89WK/TR

Edited by - on

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 03/25/2003 : 08:57:06

I use the Harken kit and did so at a time that talk of easy jacks was an issue for the future. That said I've seen an easy jack system that used a sailtrack under the boom to which sailslides were attached and upon which the jacks were slid. It made it from N.Y. to French Polynesia a year ago and worked flawlessly. If I had it to do over again I believe I'd explore this design. Questions todo with vang attachment needs a look see though.

DANG didn't splash yesterday lift couldn't get to my boat.

SO Val's still on the hard DAGNABIT

Val Bisagni]<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3df11b3127cce94709c5ff2e90000000010" border=0>

Edited by - on

svmoxie
Past Commodore

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USA
331 Posts

Response Posted - 03/25/2003 : 11:22:17

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>

who makes this product? Where on the net can I find it?

<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

Sailrite is the company and their URL is www.sailrite.com

Here is a link to the lazy jack system they offer.

http://secure.sailrite.com/prodinfo.asp?number=7018

I am not 100% sure but I think that Casey diagrams one in Good Old Boat, if not there it is surely in one of the other books he offers. I will try to find a good diagram to post.

Good Luck with your decision

Clif Thompson
Treasurer C-25/250 National Association.
svMoxie '81 25 sk

Edited by - on

Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 03/25/2003 : 13:31:26

Ok here goes. I put a Lazzy Jack system on my previous Catalina for under 40 dollars. Here is what I did and it worked fine.
1) I instaled two stainless steel eyestaps (eyelets) like shown on page 494 bottom L/H corner West Marine's new catalog. I put one on each side of the mast about 1' below the spreaders.
2) I put 4 more of the same fittings on the boom. Two on each side located as follows. 1st one 1/3 of the way from the end on each side and instaled vertical. The next one was 2/3 of the way from the end mounted the same way vertical. The same locations on the other side of the boom for the other two and monted the same.
3) I then picked up some 1/4" twisted nylon rope at the local hardware store. 100 feet 8 dollars.
4)I cut the line in half and sealed/burnt the ends as I did so.
5) I attached one end onto the mast eyelet with a stopper knot. Ran it down to 3 or 4 feet above the boom as a meassurment and cut it off there. Spliced on the Mini Block on that end. So now you have a line comming from just below the spreader down to a mini block. OK
6) With the remaining line I attached one end to the furthest aft eyelet on the boom with a stopper knot. Then ran it up through the mini block and then down and through the forward eyelet. The forward eyelet does not get tied to and the line just runs through it to a small cleat on the side of the mast adjacent to the goosneck.

Same set up on both sides. Now when you tenssion the line you should have what looks like an inverted forward slanting Y. To stow the lazzy Jacks just uncleat the line at the mast. Grasp the 1/4 inch line just behind the mini blocl and bring it forward and loop it under the cleat. This will bring the mini block to the side of the mast. Pull down on the line fron the block and tie off to the cleat.

This is the simple cheap system I used and it works great. Once set up you can drop the main yourself and stow it latter without it going all over the cabin top.

I would be glad to help with questions if you have any.

Doug&Ruth
Triska (Alberg 29)
Tacoma Wa.

Edited by - on

ssteakley
Captain

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USA
467 Posts

Response Posted - 03/27/2003 : 11:36:24

Doug, can you post a few pics of your system??
thanks,
Steve

<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3dc32b3127cce94d57c8cff3b0000001010" border=0> Moon Chaser #385WK <img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/forum/forum1.gif" border=0>

Edited by - ssteakley on 03/27/2003 11:36:46

Edited by - on

Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 03/27/2003 : 13:08:35

Steve I wish I had taken some. I sold the boat last year and bought an Alberg 29 in November. I still love the Catalina and want to keep in touch with all my friends here so please think kindly. I can say its a very easy system to build and was less than 30 dollars. I will ansure any questions you have.<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2cc10b3127cce93693b232d300000001610" border=0>

Doug&Ruth
Triska (Alberg 29)
Tacoma Wa.

Edited by - on

svmoxie
Past Commodore

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USA
331 Posts

Response Posted - 03/28/2003 : 08:59:08

Hi Frank,

I could not find the diagram I was looking for but here is a PDF file on Harkens small boat Lazy Jack System. It is actually quite good and plainly details each step and gives you a parts list. If nothing else it should provide you a useful resource. I would suggest eye splicing in small stainless rings instead of using blocks to reduce cost and chafe on the mainsail.

<img src="http://www.westmarine.com/images/full/02805_f.jpg" border=0>

http://www.harken.com/mainsail/4058lzjk.pdf

(Sometimes their site runs slow so be patient with opening the file)
Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

Clif Thompson
Treasurer C-25/250 National Association.
svMoxie '81 25 sk

Edited by - on

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