Getting the main sail to drop into a lazy jack's pack

[billdre]

So I just installed a UK Sailmakers Lazy Cradle. It's lazy jacks with an integrated sail cover at the base. It's similar to a Mack Pack in that the sail and cradle are completely separate. Not a Doyle Stackpack. My main sail has two full battens up top and then two traditional battens lower. I'd like to be able to drop the whole thing into the bag or as close to it as possible without having to go forward and pull it down. Has anyone succeeded in doing that without installing a down haul? Yes, I'm headed directly into the wind when I release the main halyard. With two full battens and a traditional track it only comes down about half way on its own. Any suggestions?

[RaymondR]

Sounds like you need to switch to a junk rig.

At some point the amount of load generated by gravity acting on the descending sail will decrease to below the force required to overcome the friction of the halyard through the blocks and sheaves and you will need to go forward to pull the sail completely down.

The alternative to the junk rig is a furling main sail.

[SVHarmonie]

No mainsail should need a down haul.

If the sail doesn’t drop all the way down to the boom, there is too much friction in the sail track/slide system. Make it better.

It needs to be cleaned and/or lubed and/or fixed. without knowing more it is impossible to say what the problem is.

If the problem is that the sail is getting trapped by the lazy jacks, then you might try experimenting lifting the boom a touch with the topping lift so the lazy jacks don’t squeeze the sail. Once you get it set right so it works, mark it.

One last thought, where are the top of your lazy jacks secured? The mast? Or out on the spreaders? If they are secured to the mast itself them might be too close together at the top and are holding the sail.

[barnakiel]

If you do not have full battens, stackpacks are only half the gold paid.


Full battens, mean. Full battens.


Other helpful tips:
- lift the boom about 2 inches (with the topping lift or the kicker),
- keep her nose into the wind.


But probably most importantly: do not run the lazy lines to the mast. Place them about 20 inches apart, on the spreaders.


Some time back we had webbing where many units have lines. It helped too but was hell of noise in high winds when the sail was down.


b.

[gonesail]

check out the Tides Marine Track and Slide System. your mainsail will hoist easily and drop the instant the halyard is released.

[barnakiel]

Ah. Yes.


Our mast has a groove and we use plastick slugs there.


But it is a fine improvement to have slidecars on the full battens - Rutgerson makes good cheap ones.


Like this:
https://www.rutgerson.se/wp-content/...04/1525-xx.jpg



Cheers,

barnakiel

[Snore]

Having dropped mains into lazy jacks in a few different boats- here are my thoughts.

1-fake out the main halyard. If you can get inertia built on the first 1/3 or so it can keep momentum. If there is a hockle or anything holding up the halyard you will need to pull it down.

2- don’t let the boom wiggle too much. Easy the main sheet, but don’t blow it completely.

3-track friction, (imho least likely) if the cars or slugs are not moving easily in the mast’s track, there will be friction and, like fouling the main halyard, will cause sail not to drop.

Finally, if the halyard is led back to the cockpit- try pulling halyard to the base of the mast and see what happens.

[JPA Cate]

Hello, Bill,

Like barnakiel, we have a very wide "mouth" for the mainsail, that helps. Ours are about 1/2 way out our lower spreaders. We have the same setup as you, with the top two battens being full and the lower two shorter, less than half the width of the sail. We have put a downhaul on ours, and it works fine, and we go forward for raising and lowering the sail. The downhaul is made from light line, and has a bungee to keep it taught while sailing and while reefed. We use a product called Mc Lube (no affiliation) to lubricate the track and the slugs. For us, it has worked best of the products we've tried. Imo, just opening the "mouth" on your setup should make a big difference; it is what I would try first, since you want to stay in the cockpit and not go forward.

Ann

[Robert E]

As others have pointed out, there is likely friction in the sail track. We have a Tides Marine Strong Track on our Nonsuch 33 mast. When attempting to douse the sail into lazy jacks the sail would hang up. Replacing the track solved the problem. This is something two people can do from the deck.

Good luck with your situation.

[DEAN2140]

Use a figure eight coil when you "fake" or flake the halyard and then let it drop hands free. This will maximize the descent speed and perhaps get the entire sail down. I have used this technique on larger boats where the boom is high off the deck.

[SaltyMetals]

I wld agree with various others. You hv too much friction in the track. Fresh water rinse, let it dry and then a good dose of McLube on the track and on each slug, particularly the ones holding the full battens. Then if yr securing point for the lazyjacks is at the upper end, move them out along the spreaders. Maybe even half way out.

The main shld drop right into the lazy bag in about 2 seconds. But make sure no one is standing on the halyard at the time!

[Rick Williams]

Agree with the votes for Tides Marine delrin track. I think it's called strong track and it fits in whatever you have for an existing track. We let the halyard go and it plummets to the sail pack. We have Mack Pack. It's a good assist when you're single handing as well.

[Captn_Black]

Originally Posted by RaymondR

Sounds like you need to switch to a junk rig.

At some point the amount of load generated by gravity acting on the descending sail will decrease to below the force required to overcome the friction of the halyard through the blocks and sheaves and you will need to go forward to pull the sail completely down.

The alternative to the junk rig is a furling main sail.

Can confirm

I would recommend a junk rig to everyone who sails short handed, but recommending anything to anyone here that they don't already have usually requires a lengthy debate.

[KenKo]

Hi, One additional easy technique to add to the good suggestions above. I've had some luck with "rocking" the boat a bit by alternately steering slightly left and right a few times under motor while lowering. It sort of shakes the main a bit and helps overcome the friction. At worst, it's allowed us to then reach up with a boat hook and pull the sail down the rest of the way.

[Cpt Mark]

a 28' boat should not need a strong track. Try the lube 1st.
If you go the strong track system, warm up the track before installing. IE leave it stretched out in the sun. I had to lengthen my slot a few inches to get the track to go in at an angle to easily slide up the mast slot.

Strong track is an excellent system, 2nd only only to the Harke's Bat cars which would so overkill on your boat.

Widening the slot. I just put my Sailrite kit (stackpack) and was wondering about the width of the slot. Thanks to all who suggested using the spreaders. Next on my list of fun projects up the mast lol