Dutchman vs Stack Pack

[oldjags]

It's now time to order new sails, and I like the idea of switching from the Dutchman system I have now to the stack pack - lazy jacks with a built in sail-cover. Before I do something stupid, though, can anybody who has actual experience with both systems chime in and give me some real world advice on which is better?

[Cotemar]

oldjags,

I always thought that the Duchman was a good system?

Stack pack - lazy jacks works nice, but you have to point up into the wind tight.
If not, your main sail gets caught on the lazy jacks on the way up.

Mark

[cfarrar]

Someone asked the same question a few weeks ago. Here's the thread.

[The Boat Galley]

We've used Dutchman on a couple of charters, then lazy jacks and then a stack pack on our Tayana 37. Hands down, we recommend the stack pack.

Our system for raising the main was for me (at the helm) to watch the main and call when the bow was right into the wind so that the battens would clear the lazy jack lines (either just as lazy jacks or part of the stack pack), then call when my husband (on the halyard) needed to stop hauling until things cleared again. You DO have to watch, so I wouldn't recommend it for single handing.

We had several other friends with stack packs and all loved them. BTW, we were all liveaboard cruisers in the Sea of Cortez or Caribbean. We all found that the ease of raising sails and stowing made it so that we actually put the sails up more often, instead of motoring for short hops.

Carolyn

[Minggat]

Originally Posted by Cotemar

oldjags,

I always thought that the Duchman was a good system?

Stack pack - lazy jacks works nice, but you have to point up into the wind tight.
If not, your main sail gets caught on the lazy jacks on the way up.

Mark

Some people get past this by only deploying the lazy jacks when they are ready to drop the main. Stowing the lazy jack again just before raising the main.

[Minggat]

One advantage IMHO about the Stack Pack or the variations there of is that you don't have to put the sail cover away when you head out or dig it out and put it back on when your done for the day.

I have full battened, loose footed main in my stack pack. Happy with my choice.

If you do go with the stack pack, make sure the lazy jacks are stowable. Not all are set up that way and are just permanently deployed.

[oldjags]

Well, looks like the stack pack wins the vote. Thanks to everybody for your opinions. My wife got all excited at the idea of new sails - maybe I can make them her Valentine's gift. (If I don't mind losing a body part or two - :-))

[sailorboy1]

I posted that last thread about the Dutchman and my new boat has this system. But I haven't tried it yet to comopare to my old Doyle Stackpak system.

I did fing in my old Practical Sailor issues an article about it and they liked the Dutchman better than lazy jacks. But over the years I've come to not really accept a lot of their "tests".

I think a fair amount depends on whether your main is fully battened. My last was and that was my main issue; with my Stackpak getting the battens caught when raising the sail.

[Sailorman375]

There are now many different makers of the "stack pack" type system in addition the original Doyle. Some different approaches to look at, but I couldn't be more pleased with this type system. IMO the only way to go.

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by Minggat

Some people get past this by only deploying the lazy jacks when they are ready to drop the main. Stowing the lazy jack again just before raising the main.

I bring the leeward side in (easy/quick) to raise the main.

I recommend the Mack Pack.
Mack Pack

[Bash]

It's all about the "lazy," isn't it. The only way to get lazier than lazy jacks is the Dutchman, except that the Stackpack is lazier still.

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by Bash

It's all about the "lazy," isn't it. The only way to get lazier than lazy jacks is the Dutchman, except that the Stackpack is lazier still.

Yep.
Like turning on a light switch instead of trimming a wick.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Bash

It's all about the "lazy," isn't it. The only way to get lazier than lazy jacks is the Dutchman, except that the Stackpack is lazier still.

Yes. Maybe time someone comes up with a new verison and calls it Less Trouble Jack or something that suggests the real story.

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by Don Lucas

Yes. Maybe time someone comes up with a new verison and calls it Less Trouble Jack or something that suggests the real story.

How about "Safer Jack"?

[Minggat]

Originally Posted by Therapy

How about "Safer Jack"?

Does that come with a story? Trying to image Lazy jack being unsafe. I'm sure there's a way to get in trouble if you're not doing something right.

C'mon. Whadarya thinkin?