Amsteel for lazy jacks?

[zachduckworth]

Hi all,

The lazy jacks on my Islander Bahama 30 could use a replacement. I’m looking at 1/8 inch Amsteel (blue, for the record), and I was wondering if that would be a good material to go with, or if something else would be better. Thanks!

[Steve_C]

It might be good, but I would reconsider using the blue. It will rub off and possibly discolor your sails.

[zachduckworth]

Originally Posted by Steve_C

It might be good, but I would reconsider using the blue. It will rub off and possibly discolor your sails.

We do not want that! My new sail is being made as I type….

Will any line do that? And could I reduce that issue by drawing the lazy jacks down to the boom except when I’m about to drop the sail, and after tying it down bring the lazy jacks back down again? Basically only deploying them when needed and limiting the time they are contacting the sail?

[Franziska]

Why do they have to be blue?

We have used untainted and raw (uncovered) grey 3mm Dyneema line to hold up our lazy bag. Works fine and is much better than the previous non Dyneema line as it hardly stretches. It's incredibly strong as well. One line has a breaking strength of over 900kg.

Still for the last couple of meters towards the cleat we use some "normal" non Dyneema line.
The Dyneema would slip in the cleat.

[Tupaia]

The only time the lazy jacks really rub on the sail is close to the boom.
I used this method to protect my carbon mainsail from lazy jack lines cutting into the mylar skins and have continued to use it ever since.

Upper lines are strong thin lines while the lower ones where they connect to the boom are soft 10mm double braid. The lazy jack pulleys are half way out along the upper spreaders, not on the side of the mast that allows a much more controlled flake and keeps the lazy jacks away from the sail higher up.

I have a cover rather than a stack-pack as I like to see the foot of the main. If you have a stack-pack the lazy jacks really don't apply much pressure to the sail.

......../ Thin lines
......./ "
....../ "
...../\ "
..../. \ "
.../... \ "
../ .....\ "
./\ ...../\ 10mm double braid
/ .\... /. \ "

[AiniA]

You could use Amsteel but it seems overkill for lazy jacks which have little load on them.

[tamicatana]

Ive had small Amsteel grey for my jacks about 10yr now and have been quite pleased. The grey isn't actually uncovered, UHMWPE fibre is white.

[Orion Jim]

Originally Posted by zachduckworth

Hi all,

The lazy jacks on my Islander Bahama 30 could use a replacement. I’m looking at 1/8 inch Amsteel (blue, for the record), and I was wondering if that would be a good material to go with, or if something else would be better. Thanks!

I use the 3/16” gray Amsteel primarily because it’s easier to splice than the smaller lines and cleats well. It weighs next to nothing, no visible chafe on the sail and lasts for several years. My topping lift is made of the same material.

[Dantp]

I'm still not quite sure why so many people seem to like low stretch lazy jack lines.
I like the stretch. If I crank down on the vang or mainsheet to trim the main I don't want to have to go to the mast to adjust the length of the lazyjacks every time or tear a home in my lazybag.
We use 5mm double braid polyester (35ft boat). You can get single braid polyester (same weave as dyneema) as well if you want easy splices rather than even easier knots.
I like the stretch, I definitely prefer the price.

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by Dantp

I'm still not quite sure why so many people seem to like low stretch lazy jack lines....

Exactly. I like some give.



But the low friction and durability in the sun are nice. Amsteel is easy to splice. But I prefer polyester. A combination of line types could be good.

[Benz]

Marlow makes a 12-strand pre-stretched polyester precisely for lazy jacks that is braided like Dyneema, so it looks the same, splices the same, handles the same, but costs far less. I made some lazy jacks for the boat I'm currently sailing out of that and find it to be perfect. Any Marlow dealer will be able to source it, and it's pennies on the dollar to same diameter Dyneema.

[marcjsmith]

zach. I did that on my moody went with the grey color and used low friction rings on the legs.

after half a season I made a stack pack to compliment the lazy jacks

easy project, well worth it. 12 strand splices super easy.

darn it. sorry for cooked images..


bout a 600' spook had enough line to make lazy jacks for two similar sized rigs with about 200' left over.


$0.27 per foot...