[Rhodes22-list] Lasy jacks

[Graham Stewart]

Several of you asked for some detail regarding the sail bag and lazy jacks that I installed.

The sail bag I had made for me. You can purchase a kit from SailRite and make your own but you need a heavy duty sewing machine to do so.

Various sail makers make sail bags although each have their own names for them. I got quotes from four sail makers with prices ranging from $490 to $800. I got mine from the Sail Warehouse (www.thesailwarehouse.com) . It was the best price and I am more than satisfied with both the quality of the workmanship, materials and service. There are a number of details that need to be established such as hank arrangement and size and exact dimensions. They were very helpful to me in sorting these matters out. That said, I am sure the other makers would be good as well. Having done this I would now be very reluctant to buy a premade sail bag. The details are important.

My main sail has a loose foot so the sail bag is attached to the boom with hanks. The need to make sure that you get ones that are the right size. This makes a pretty neat installation. If the foot of your sail uses hanks a different method of attachmet is used.

The sail bag is held up with the lazy jacks. Lazy jacks do not come with the sail bag. You can buy kits or just make your own. I made my own. You need two cheek blocks, two cleats, four small blocks (although some just use rings) and about 120' of line. I have attached a picture showing the approximate dimensions that I used. Splicing the line to the blocks is neater but bowline knots also work. I used 1/4" double braid line but I think lighter line would also be sufficient. I also installed a new topping lift line       that loops from the aft end of the boom to the masthead and then back and ties off on the boom. This line also goes through loops at the end of the sail bag.

I used PVC 3/4" tubes on the top edge of the sail bag to maintain its shape and to slip through loops in the lazy jack lines. In the fall I remove the tube which frees up the lazy jack lines and I then gather them up and lash to the mask. The sail bag and sail then slide off the boom together along with battens and stores as a unit. In the spring I slide the hanks onto the boom, insert the tubes into the sail bag together with the lazy jack lines and she is pretty much ready to go.

The only tricky part when using lazy jacks is to ensure that you are headed dead up wind when raising the sail as otherwise the battens can get caught on the lazy jack lines. That is not a big deal if you have  a crew person on the helm and you are under power.

Overall I am happy with the arrangement and can live with the tradeoffs that every system entails. The biggest advantage is that my wife is much more inclined to go sailing with me. Struggling with a lowered main sail really turns her off sailing and I don't care for it either. This system is for convenience - not speed.


Graham Stewart
Agile, Rodes 22, 1976
Kingston Ontario







-----Original Message-----
From: Rhodes22-list [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of Todd Tavares
Sent: Saturday, May 14, 2022 12:36 PM
To: The Rhodes 22 Email List
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Lasy jacks

Graham,

Any info on this? Was it custom made or was it an off the shelf item you
purchased?

Todd T

On Fri, May 13, 2022, 10:26 PM Graham Stewart <gstewart8 at cogeco.ca> wrote:

> For those with the conventional rig, you might be interested in the
> arrangements of sail bag and lazy jacks that I installed on my 76 Rhodes.
>
> While this arrangement will not likely help you win races, it has turned
> out to be a very convenient way to raise, lower and store the mainsail. I
> have attached a picture.
>
> The sail just drops into the bag when lowered and the cover zips up
> easily. I no longer have to struggle with sail management. It has many, not
> all,  of the benefits of the IMF with none of the complications or cost.
>
> Graham Stewart
> Agile, Rodes 22, 1976
> Kingston Ontario
>
>
>
>
>
>
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