Poor Man's Lazy Jacks

[Captain Smollett]

Saw this on the Alberg 30 list and since *I* had never heard of it before, I thought I'd post it.  Andrew of Andante (#152) posted it, but he said the idea came from Gordon Laco of Surprise (#426).

Instead of installing lazy jacks to tame the main, Gord suggests just using the first reef in a sense.  As you lower the sail, grab the reef grommet and use the sail between the reef point and the foot as a "trough" to catch the sail as it comes down.

Seems like a sweet idea to me....I'm gonna try this asap.  I've not had too much trouble handling the mainsail on either boat, but hey, things can always be easier.

Other ideas to control the main as it comes down?

[Oldrig]

Interesting.
When I first installed reefing lines on my main (I leave them up all the time), I posted a question on the Cape Dory board about what to do with them as I pull down the sail, and where to store them when furling the sail.

Somebody said they pull in on those lines as they bring down the sail--and it keeps the main under control.

I've only done this occasionally in heavy weather, but it does work.

--Joe

[AdriftAtSea]

Just upgraded the lazy jacks on my boat.  Originally, it had a two-leg system, which really didn't help control the main sail much beyond keeping it somewhat above the boom.  Now it has a four-leg system that starts further forward and end further aft, which should be a lot better at controlling the main as it drops.  I also used the same padeyes, that the lazyjacks are tied to, to create a quick furling system.  There is a shock cord run through the four padeyes on both sides of the boom—one side has a hook between each pair of padeyes (three total) and to furl the main sail, all you should need to do is reach over the boom and grab the shock cord and pull it over and attach it to the hook on the opposite side.  This should keep the sail furled neatly above the boom without needing sailties.  I'll post photos of it later, once I've put the mainsail on the boat.

[newt]

I've got a quick (probably stupid) question. Do all those lines (lazy jacks, reefing lines etc) affect the performance of the sail? and do they tend to get caught in anything? I was thinking of the shrouds in a run situation.

[maxiSwede]

I never bothered to get lazy jacks, but my reefing lines are always there, ready for use. Never got tangled in anything. If you take a scientific onlook, they would probably slow your boat with ,002 knots since I reckon they create some turbulence in the airstream...  ;) who cares, unless racing?  ???

[AdriftAtSea]

If you have the lazy jacks setup properly, you can run them forwards and out of the way when you're not using them. The reefing lines are generally far enough forward or back on the sail that they don't hit the shrouds. 

[newt]

Ok Ok, but reefing lines gives my sails frills, Real men don't have things that have frills on them ;D
After all I don't want to look like my mom's lampshades when I'm sailing. My cockpit already looks a little like cat's cradle with the steering gear.
And I am not really concerned about the speed, I just want to be the most stylish sailor. :P
After all there may be mermaids out there. I think I will go home now and try to cover that big bald spot on my head...

[Leroy - Gulf 29]

I think I will go home now and try to cover that big bald spot on my head...

That is a solar collector for a love machine, not a bald spot ;D

[newt]

Back to the original topic...I tried using the first reef as a sail holder last night and failed miserably. Maybe I was just tired and it was dark, but do you partially reef and then use it as a sail holder? Do you reef the front at the same time. My reefing is kinda retarded, as I take a line in the aft part of the boom and sew the reef to the main by running it through the grommet holes. I have a feeling this technique won't fly on my little boat, but it is easy to lash down anyway. Just takes a bit of time when soloing.
Now as to my shiny forehead- my wife thinks it's a collector of laughter...er love. She doesn't buy the "grass does grow on a busy street" logic.

[TJim]

A lot of people have a lot of different ways of reefing...  The way I do it works great for me....!st I put the topping lift on the back of the boom.  Next I head up until I just barely start to luff.  Then I drop my halyard to reef marks I have on my halyard, a single mark for 1st reef, 2 marks for 2nd reef and 3 marks for 3rd
reef. (Never have used that one.  I then go to the mast, pull my sail down to the tack reefing grommet and hook it on my reefing hook.  I then pull my clue reefing line tight, which is always attached to the reefing clue, there are 3 of them, and cleat it off on the boom by the mast.  Tie up the sail, a bit loose, tighten up my main halyard and it's done.  Takes less than 2 minutes if someone is timing me, 3 or 4 if I'm alone.
TJim

[Captain Smollett]

do you partially reef and then use it as a sail holder?

I thought so at first, but on further reflection after starting this thread, I don't think so.  I think what Gord was saying was to simply hold the sail "out" from the mast/boom to create a pouch.  There's nothing magical about using the reefing tack as the point you grab, other than it's convenient.

So, imagine that as you let the sail down, you grab the reefing tack and hold it out so the part of the sail between the reef points and the boom form a 'tray' or 'shelf.'  If you move your arm a bit closer to the boom, this 'shelf' sags and can collect the sail.

Downside (if my understanding of the method is correct): you've got to let the bottom few slides of the mast track as in reefing; perhaps I should do this, but I don't.  I store the main furled on the boom with all slides on the track - ready to hoist.

Sorry to hear it did not work well for you.  I'm going to try it, but I'm wondering if it really is any easier than just furling on the boom as the sail comes down.

[AdriftAtSea]

I just installed a new mainsail furling setup that I saw on a friend's boat as part of my lazy jack upgrade.  The lazy jacks were upgraded to a four-leg system, as seen in this drawing:



The four padeyes on each side of the boom that the lazy jack legs are tied off to also have a shock cord running through them. On one side, the shock cord has a hook reeved on each segment, between each pair of padeyes.  To furl the mainsail, once it is lowered, you grab the hook, pull it up and over the mainsail and attach it to the shock cord on the other side.  I'll post photos of the setup next week, when I have a chance to take the camera down to the boat.