Alternative to stack pack ?

[OceanSprint]

I have just set up my newly acquired jaguar 24, and have run out of cash. It doesn't have lazy jacks or a stack pack for the main. It does have slab reefing, with two reef points. Any tips on the best way to secure / release main singlehanded? Currently i am lashing it with rope, which is slow and i need to be out of the cockpit too long.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Sail ties clove hitched on a length of line the length of the boom with quick clips and a bit of bungy in it to allow it to stretch in place. Clip under boom and all the ties are dangling in the right place to do a quick stow?

 

[Twister_Ken]

Seconded.

If you're fussy you can always tidy it up with pukka sail ties when you've parked.

You've got a sail cover too?

 

[Poignard]

Thirded.

Use 3-strand rope and you can just push the sail tyers through the strands.

One of the most useful things on my boat.

 

[OceanSprint]

Seconded.

If you're fussy you can always tidy it up with pukka sail ties when you've parked.

You've got a sail cover too?

Yes, i do have a sail cover, but put it on / off in marina.

Would the under-boom rope stay there all the tine?

Also, what are best "quick clips" ?

Many thanks for answers.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Would the under-boom rope stay there all the tine? Yes. By the time the sail ties are done up its lying close to the boom and gets hidden by the sail cover anyway.

Also, what are best "quick clips" ? The best clips are any you have lying around and which are suitable?

If you've got to buy some clips then you could look at carbine clips like these:

http://www.force4.co.uk/ProductImages/fullsize/880047.JPG

or if you are feeling flush you could use a snap shackle?

 

[clyst]

Quick and easy way is to use a catapiller . length of Bungy cord clipped along above the boom with Bungy cords to secure the sail every couple of feet with eyes and toggles . Quick to fit and easy and quick to secure .

 

[john_morris_uk]

Quick and easy way is to use a catapiller . length of Bungy cord clipped along above the boom with Bungy cords to secure the sail every couple of feet with eyes and toggles . Quick to fit and easy and quick to secure .

1. Lots of people don't like the bungy with balls and eyes. Too many people have nearly taken their real eyes out with them when they fly free. Sail ties with loops are just as quick and a lot safer.

2. How do you manage to get it to be 'above' the sail if the sail is hanging off one side of the boom and waiting to be flaked? A quick and dirty roll of the sail is ok for a few minutes, but most people try to flake their sail onto the boom. I can't see how that will work with the bungys on a line from above.

With sail ties clove hitched onto a line underneath I can flake a mainsail neatly and secure it single handed. (Tip - start from the aft end.)

 

[clyst]

1. Lots of people don't like the bungy with balls and eyes. Too many people have nearly taken their real eyes out with them when they fly free. Sail ties with loops are just as quick and a lot safer.

2. How do you manage to get it to be 'above' the sail if the sail is hanging off one side of the boom and waiting to be flaked? A quick and dirty roll of the sail is ok for a few minutes, but most people try to flake their sail onto the boom. I can't see how that will work with the bungys on a line from above.

With sail ties clove hitched onto a line underneath I can flake a mainsail neatly and secure it single handed. (Tip - start from the aft end.)

Used to use one with ease on my old folkboat years ago .
clip the line from mast to boom with sail "up" drop the sail loosely collect sail and quickly secure toggles . No need for the ties to be stretch tight . Its only a quick fix till moored . Worked a treat for me .

 

[john_morris_uk]

Used to use one with ease on my old folkboat years ago .
clip the line from mast to boom with sail "up" drop the sail loosely collect sail and quickly secure toggles . No need for the ties to be stretch tight . Its only a quick fix till moored . Worked a treat for me .

Fair enough - and I can see how that would work. However I am not sure I see any advantages over the 'washing line' of sail ties with loops that many people clip underneath the boom.

I guess its another option for the OP to consider.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

The easy way is to drop the sail and do a quick and dirty rough stow when dropping the sail, then do a neat and tidy harbour stow once back at the mooring or pontoon. It's easy enough to get a couple of sail-ties round a sail and bundle it up roughly when you drop it. That's how I managed when I was sailing single-handed on a 31 footer. Make sure your sail ties are long, so you can easily get them round a bulky parcel!

 

[onesea]

I know there is an general view against bungee cord etc..

There is a good bungee solution, with minimal risk to eyes.... Its what I would use, and not bother with expense/ hassle with stack pack...

Required:

1) Length of bungee twice the length of the boom 3-6mm depending on weight of sail.
2) One hook like below for every 2 foot - 3foot of boom.
3) Larger hooks either end.
Small hook:

Construction:
1) Thread all the hooks onto the bungee, One large one first keep the last larger one seperate.
2) Use this one when you tie the bungee loop (this hook can is larger so it can hook onto apropriate place at end of boom).
3) Hook your Tied Larger hook onto the end of the boom or shroud/ backstay.
4) take the other larger hook and pull the elastic straight (you should have all the hooks on one side and the other side empty.
5) When the elastics is divided in half tie an over hand knot to position the other end hook.
6) Now put an over hand knot evenly spaced along the elastic so there is a hook between each knot.

Use:
Hook both large hooks either end of the boom, the elastic should stay close tot he boom without to much sag so it can be left in place sailing. If the bottom of the main has sail slides you can even slide the hooks throught and leave them there. This leaves less chance of hooks whipping out.

When you drop the sail you can flake or bag it as each section is done separate the hook and free elastic around the boom and hook together.

Done correctly there is not to much tension in the event of unexpected release and it will flick towards boom away from face.

You end up with this sort of effect (If Only I googled first I would say this)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4mtr-SAIL-TIE-SHOCK-CORD-MAINSAIL-BOOM-RETAINER-Furling-/140442088561

 

[Sandy]

Onesea thats a great design, thanks for that.

 

[Georgio]

The easy way is to drop the sail and do a quick and dirty rough stow when dropping the sail, then do a neat and tidy harbour stow once back at the mooring or pontoon. It's easy enough to get a couple of sail-ties round a sail and bundle it up roughly when you drop it. That's how I managed when I was sailing single-handed on a 31 footer. Make sure your sail ties are long, so you can easily get them round a bulky parcel!

+1, that's what I do when single-handed or with crew, 32ft sail boat with no lazy bag system and a bolt rope mainsail.

Quickly drop the whole sail onto the deck leaving the head of the sail in the track then roll the sail up into into itself (imagine a bag made from the bottom reefing slab with the rest of the sail rolled in). A couple of sail ties and you are sorted. Mainsail folded properly once tied up.

 

[OceanSprint]

Onesea thats a great design, thanks for that.

+1

Thanks to everyone who gave advice, but I must admit I do like the solution by onesea.

 

[onesea]

When you drop the sail you can flake or bag it as each section is done separate the hook and free elastic around the boom and hook together.

Quickly drop the whole sail onto the deck leaving the head of the sail in the track then roll the sail up into into itself (imagine a bag made from the bottom reefing slab with the rest of the sail rolled in). A couple of sail ties and you are sorted. Mainsail folded properly once tied up.

That''s what I meant by bag it, if you get the size right it can make a quick and easy stow. Hold the bottom of the sail open and pull the sail backwards parallel with the boom to drop it in. If the sail is not in near new condition (Where I flake regardless), I would leave the sail like that rather than reflake it later. I really doubt it damages the sail that much..

Why is it one of the hardest things to explain to new crew that when stowing a main that has slides it is most important to pull the sail back away from the mast to make a good stow, if you pull it all back it almost stows itself...

 

[jimi]

By the time you've farted around with some of these solutions you could easily have installed lazy jacks several times over! I've got lazy jacks and use sail ties and a sail cover. On my 38 footer I can drop the main into the lazy jacks and hold in place with a single sail tie until convenient to sort properly. I'd imagine it would be even easier on a smaller main partic if has reasonable length battens

 

[Sandy]

I have just set up my newly acquired jaguar 24, and have run out of cash.

By the time you've farted around with some of these solutions you could easily have installed lazy jacks several times over! I've got lazy jacks and use sail ties and a sail cover. On my 38 footer I can drop the main into the lazy jacks and hold in place with a single sail tie until convenient to sort properly. I'd imagine it would be even easier on a smaller main partic if has reasonable length battens

I don't think speed is the issue.

I don't have lazy jacks and there are some fantastic ideas here until the day they drift to the top of the list of things to fit. Strangely, things are coming off the boat this winter as I find the last owner had more toys than are needed to sail across any ocean or perhaps I am a purest.

 

[jimi]

Fitting lazy jacks will hardly bust the bank, they are essentially two long bits of string.

 

[Sandy]

Fitting lazy jacks will hardly bust the bank, they are essentially two long bits of string.

Perhaps, but any new to you boat is always more expensive to set up that you think.