Lazy Jacks and Dutchman
Date: November 27, 1999
From: Larry A. Park lpark@geodynamic.com
Paul.
I wanted to see if anyone can provide input on Lazy Jacks (quality, ease of installation, and how well they function) for a 1980 37' Endeavour.
Date: November 29, 1999
From: Paul Uhl endvr32@endeavourowners.com
Endeavour Owners,
Larry sent us this question about Lazy Jacks for his E37. I'm sending it out to everyone as this type of topic always seems to open up a larger debate. In addition to Lazy Jacks, it might be interesting to include other mainsail handling systems like the Dutchman. We already have a topic for main furling systems so please exclude comments on those.
Date: November 29, 1999
From: David Shelton David.Shelton2@MW.Boeing.com
I have installed a Dutchman system on my E35. It is a good system. I usually take the main down myself, and even in a strong wind I can manage easily to flake the sail. I have modified my main sail cover with zippers on one side to allow for covering of main without lowering or slacking the dutchman.
Date: November 29, 1999
From: Dale West STSOMEWHERE@prodigy.net
Larry,
While I have no experience with "Lazy Jacks" on an E-37, I have made them for my Hughes 26, Bristol 29.9, Ericson 23 and I plan on making and installing them on my "new" E-37. It is a very easy and inexpensive upgrade that I like to do. You can make and install on your own for next to nothing. Check out this months issue of Sail as they have a good article on the subject.
Date: November 29, 1999
From: Luther Carrier Lelair@aol.com
Hello Everybody,
I currently have Lazy Jacks and after having them I do not think I would purchase a kit. These came with the boat and I always thought I would want to someday add them to a boat. But as luck would have it I purchased a boat with them. The pro of having them is that you can lower your sail when short handed or in a hurry. The con is what I have found, is that you have to be dead, straight, square into the wind, otherwise the head board gets hung up in the Lazy Jack lines that tie in to the mast. This is where I spend most of my time, fighting with the wind and the minimum clearance of the lines at the mast.
It maybe possible that my existing Lazy Jacks can be modified, but if I have to go up there I think I will just take them down.
Take Care,
Capt' Carrier
Date: November 30, 1999
From: Carl Hibbard Chgypsy@aol.com
Larry,
I have a 79 E37. Have not installed lazy jacks. However I have had 2 boats with Dutchman, which are more expensive, but don't have the fuss, or the banging of the lines. This is my biggest hangup with lazy jacks. Have sailed many boats with the jacks, they seem to work well. Relatively easy to install, require probable modification of your sail cover, and quite accurate placement of the turning blocks on the mast.
Dutchman is simpler to install but requires pass through grommets (plastic) in the mainsail. The bigger the sail the more grommets. Complete instructions in his brocure with the several ways of installing based on your topping lift. Several owners have used the plastic "weed whacker" line to replace the ones supplied (sun gets to them at about 4-8 years), or if you meet the guy at a boat show he almost always has freeby replacements until he runs out.
My wife is pushing for any system to help drop the main, I'm in a delaying mode, but may have to something this season.
If you decide to go the through mast route with the halyards, you have space for four, one of which I made the topping lift , for the Dutchman to be installed. If you need info on almost anything involving the mast, wiring, construction etc let me know ---been there done that--- Carl Hibbard
Date: December 2, 1999
From: Dennis and Barbara Rings Moxsun@aol.com
We put E-Z Jaxs on our 43' mainsail this summer. Installation was no problem. Easy to follow directions. We went with E-Z Jaxs because they seemed simple and would retract out of the way when under sail.( no lines chaffing on the sail). After installation we have used them with limited suscess,. I have spoken with the manufacture and they are refitting the original set up so they work a littlebetter than they presently do, they have respondend to our questions and seem to be willing to work with us on the problem, we will see what they come up with!
By the way the cost was a little less expensive than lazy jacks, and the idea behind them seems ot be sound.
Date: December 14, 1999
From: Jerry Bernath Bernathj@pocketmail.com
I installed a MAC PACK system on my E42 last year and I single handed throughout the Bahamas. It cost only $600 total and works great.
Another note, being a full time cruiser, I have found that one of the best ways to stay in touch and being used by many full time cruisers is the pocketmail system. I happen to be in Hawaii visiting my Son & family and on his computer to send this message via AOL, but get pocketmail, it works great and it is what I will use when I return to Florida in January and go to the Bahamas.
Date: January 20, 2000
From: David & Kim Olson olson@tbcnet.com
We have a 38C with a Dutchman system, and we love it! We also had a Lazy Jack system on our last boat, the Dutchman has ben an easier and more efficient method to handle the main. (at least for us) I have not heard of anyone in our marina changing to a Lazy Jack from a Dutchman, But many of our friends have gone the other way.
Date: February 21, 2000
From: Terry and Nancy Armitage nanter@nbnet.nb.ca
We had Lazy jacks on our last boat a Hallberg Rassey 35 and did not find them a Great help. To raise sail had to be square into wind or the battens would get fouled in the jacks. I got tired of them making a racket beating away on the mast and took them down.
