andybussell
Well-Known Member
I'm replacing my boom cover for the mainsail and am considering a Doyle stack pack. Anybody had experience with these or other types. All advice gratefully received and Thanks in advance.
Advice on stack pack
- Thread starter andybussell
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PuffTheMagicDragon
Well-Known Member
For my previous boat I made my own out of treated Sunbrella. I found it very convenient to just drop the sail without having it all over the coachroof, anchoring and then simply pulling on a zipper to close the top. Stepping (inadvertently) on two or more layers of mainsail that is on a coachroof while trying to put it away neatly is a slipping hazard that I would avoid.
My present boat came with a 'normal' sail cover that is still in good shape. When the time comes to replace it I will certainly make another 'stack-pack' because it is infinitely more convenient for me since I normally sail single-handed.
My present boat came with a 'normal' sail cover that is still in good shape. When the time comes to replace it I will certainly make another 'stack-pack' because it is infinitely more convenient for me since I normally sail single-handed.
Tranona
Well-Known Member
Don't know whether there is anything special about a Doyle stack pack, but there are many variations on the theme, mostly minor that can make significant differences to the way they work in particular applications. I have just had one made by Kemps which has design features specific to my boat. Most sailmakers have experience of what works, even if their solutions are not always the same so worth talking to 2 or 3 different ones to see what they offer.
vyv_cox
Well-Known Member
I bought and fitted a Kemp stackpack at the beginning of the 2014 season. We wanted a couple of relatively minor modifications from their standard design, easily resolved with a little discussion at LBS. I must say it has been superb, making it so much easier to drop the mainsail when required. The knock-on has been that we now sail on short trips where previously we would have motored.
RichardS
N/A
The only disadvantage with a stackpack, particularly if you have a heavily roached sail or a fully battened one where the battens stand slightly proud of the leech, is that you have to be pointing dead to windward when you raise the sail or it will keep getting stuck on the stackpack lines. 
As Vyv says, dropping the sail is a doddle.
Richard
As Vyv says, dropping the sail is a doddle.
Richard
LittleSister
Well-Known Member
Is a 'stackpack' any more than lazy jacks with a built in sail cover?
prv
Well-Known Member
PhilipH
Well-Known Member
The only disadvantage with a stackpack, particularly if you have a heavily roached sail or a fully battened one where the battens stand slightly proud of the leech, is that you have to be pointing dead to windward when you raise the sail or it will keep getting stuck on the stackpack lines.
As Vyv says, dropping the sail is a doddle.
Richard
Agree but advantages of stackpack outweigh probs of battens catching lazyjacks
GrahamM376
Well-Known Member
The only disadvantage with a stackpack, particularly if you have a heavily roached sail or a fully battened one where the battens stand slightly proud of the leech, is that you have to be pointing dead to windward when you raise the sail or it will keep getting stuck on the stackpack lines.
As Vyv says, dropping the sail is a doddle.
Richard
We don't have a problem hoisting a few degrees off wind, with main sheet slack.
RichardS
N/A
I think that's where the catamaran mainsail with a large roach works against us. Even with the main sheet slackened right off the sail flaps from side to side as it goes up. We are getting better at it as the years go by and probably raise it without a problem 50% of the time. I also wonder if the 2:1 gearing on the main halyard makes it worse as we cannot raise the sail quickly enough to whizz it up when the alignment is just right. 1:1 gearing would be better but the sail would be just too heavy after the first few metres.
Like everything with boats, it's a compromise!
Richard
GrahamM376
Well-Known Member
Maybe that's where I have the advantage, I can haul it 80% by hand before winching so just time it for when clear of lazyjacks.
duncan99210
Well-Known Member
When we got Rampage the lazy jacks were fixed and we had quite a few problems with the sail catching as it was lifted. I fitted an additional line so that they could be adjusted from the mast, problem solved as I can slacken the lazy jacks to free off the sail if required.
We're in the process of making our own pack just now as the old one is worn out.
We're in the process of making our own pack just now as the old one is worn out.
25931
Well-Known Member
Crusader made ours for La Roca and we have been very pleased and now have everything run back to the cockpit which is quite civilised.
vyv_cox
Well-Known Member
If you only look at the basics then I suppose that is right. It's the detail that makes the difference. The pack is battened at the upper 'corners', which helps the sail to drop into it. There are double-zipped ports to enable reefing pennants to pass around the boom. Ours has straps with buckles so that the pack can be rolled and strapped up against the boom, not something we would use on short trips but worthwhile on longer passages. There are netting patches on the lower parts to allow a wet sail to drain.
There is a great deal of work in a good stackpack, justifying its fairly high price.
gregcope
Well-Known Member
jdc
Well-Known Member
We have exactly the same issue with our monohull (fair roach on a fully battened and damn heavy main). But it only happens when motoring into the wind to hoist the main (which is, admittedly, the usual method). I've discovered that the lazyjacks catch on the battens much more rarely if I hoist the main once sailing under genoa on a close reach (maybe 45° - 50° apparent wind). The slight heel means that the boom lies harmlessly to leeward so is no longer a menace to crew, and the sail lies much more quietly in the air-stream from the genoa with hardly any flapping. As a bonus, this way is about the only method that's reliable when not using the engine at all.
JumbleDuck
Well-Known Member
Hmm. I reckon the time I waste disentangling battens every flipping time easily outweighs the time I'd spend flaking the sail down. May try a season with a normal cover to see if I'm right.
LittleSister
Well-Known Member
Thank you. Interesting.
Seajet
...
Yup !
I know this is untrendy heresy, but...
My chum ( usually singlehanded, inexperienced ) has just fitted a stackpack on his Centaur; far from being a labour saving device the lazyjacks make it a bloody nightmare.
Lines to pull the slackened lazyjacks towards the mast seem essential if he's ever going to see the full mainsail again.
There is also the huge windage of the things in gales...
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JumbleDuck
Well-Known Member
There seems to be a general agreement that lazyjacks are great on bigger boats, more trouble than they're worth on smaller ones and that the crossover point is somewhere around 26' ... the length of your pal's Centaur and my boat. I do like the convenience of the easy-to-zip cover - if only there was a sensible way to have that but not the easyjacks.
On my last boat I had a thing called an Octopus - a length of shockcord under the full length of the boom with further shockcord crosspieces, toggle and one end and loop at the other. Basically a set of shockcord sail ties, held in position. Took ten seconds to rig before lowering sail and made flaking down very easy. I'm thinking of trying that set up again.