George green
New member
Hi I have a 43dt yawl my question it is rigged with the Dutchman system could I change this to lazy jacks and how easy would it be. What are your options on both systems.
Dutchman to lazyjack
- Thread starter George green
- Start date
Poignard
Well-known member
I fitted lazy jacks to my 28' sloop not long ago and it was easy. I fitted a cheek block each side of the mast above the spreaders and that allows me to slacken off the lazy jacks and pull them forward when not required.
Some people prefer to have a block attached to the spreaders as that keeps the lazy jacks further apart.
I would be interested to know why you want to change from the Dutchman system. I have no experience of it but from what I have read it seems an attractive idea.
Some people prefer to have a block attached to the spreaders as that keeps the lazy jacks further apart.
I would be interested to know why you want to change from the Dutchman system. I have no experience of it but from what I have read it seems an attractive idea.
George green
New member
In the Uk where I am it seems to be difficult to get a replacement Dutch system but very easy to get lazy Jack so I’m looking at the options. If I fitted a lazy Jack would I would need to fit reefing lines as well. I’m not sure if I would need to get the sail altered or not.
Buck Turgidson
Well-known member
reefing lines are completely separate to lazy jacks and I would assume to a dutchman system too!!
Poignard
Well-known member
From what I have read there are two Dutchman systems. One has the lines threaded alternately through vertical rows of eyelets in the sail, the other has its lines threaded through plastic guides sewn to the face of the sail. Both these require modifications to the sail.
With lazy jacks the sail needs no alteration because the lazy jack lines are either side of the sail and not attached to it in any way. You would need to alter the mainsail cover unless you do as I do and pull the lazy jacks forward when not in use.
Laminar Flow
Well-known member
After fitting new sails with full battens I rigged both main and mizzen booms with lazy jacks. As Poignard suggested, I attached blocks to the spreaders to widen the spacing at top, nor did I have to change the sail covers either - very happy with the results. Sails are loose footed.
BabaYaga
Well-known member
Depending on where the lazy jacks are attached to the boom, it might also be possible to let them stay in place and still use a conventional main sail cover without any alterations.
Mine attach on the 'wrong' side, then goes u n d e r the boom before going up to the cheek block on the mast.
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smert
Active member
Doyles were about the only loft who knew what a Dutchman system was when we were looking for a new main for our Catalina. They are the Oem sails for Catalina so are quite used to them. The Solent loft did struggle to get the bits from the US, but this was during April this year when the world was shut down!
We have found the Dutchman far better than the lazy jack system on the previous boat.
wilkinsonsails
Active member
We used to fit the Dutchman flaking system to sails in the UK.
It became more difficult to get the bits ,even though I knew the original inventor of the system and tried to get hold of him for further supply of spare parts and new system kits .
If your sail ran freely in the mast it was a neat way of holding the sail on the boom .
It became more difficult to get the bits ,even though I knew the original inventor of the system and tried to get hold of him for further supply of spare parts and new system kits .
If your sail ran freely in the mast it was a neat way of holding the sail on the boom .
flaming
Well-known member
Had the Dutchman system on an old boat of Dad's in the 90s. A legend 336. Worked okish, but we eventually swapped out for lazyjacks and a stackpack and found that to be a much better system with regard to keeping the sail out of the way of a shorthanded crew on the drop. Also didn't seem to have any downsides that weren't also present on the Dutchman system.
Stemar
Well-known member
Even with lazyjacks that can be an issue. My need was to be able to dump the main without leaving the cockpit, so I ran a light line from a slide near the head of the sail back to the cockpit which meant I could pull it down firmly and tie it off.
newtothis
Well-known member
Junk and gaffer owners smile smugly at these threads. 
wilkinsonsails
Active member
Junk and gaffer owners smile smugly at these threads.
Tides marine / Strong track owners too. sails come down easily.?
George green
New member
I will have to see if I can get parts if not maybe a new main and stack pack and lazy jacks..... the bank manager won’t be happy ?
flaming
Well-known member
Why would you need a new main? We kept the same main when we switched.
Stemar
Well-known member
DIY isn't hard to do. A stack pack is pretty much all straight seams and the rest is just sorting out bits of string. A wander down any pontoon will show you what goes where
George green
New member
wasn’t sure if it would be better to replace everything. What about reefin
flaming
Well-known member
What about reefing? Surely you have reef points now? Or are we talking at cross purposes and what I call the dutchman system isn't what you have now...?
oldmanofthehills
Well-known member
I had lazy jacks on a roller reefing boom, attached to jack stay between mast and mainsheet top block so it didnt rotate with boom.
Lazy jacks are completely separate from reefing.
The dutch system includes integral reefing, basically slab reefing, and you need to retain that in some form maybe by going to a two line system.
If you want finer control of reefing than the present "dutch" cringles allow just put in another set of reefing cringles and sail tie cringles for maybe £100, You certainly wont need a new sail
alan_d
Well-known member
Every time I scroll down the thread titles I think this one must be about CB radio communication. "Dutchman to Lazyjack do you read me?"
