Lazyjacks- attach to upper or lower spreaders?

[fredrussell]

Any suggestions? They’re currently mounted to mast at upper spreader level and I would like to move them out on spreaders, but which set?

 

[MoodySabre]

I see no problem with them being on the lower spreaders. The largest part of the sail is below this level and as you lower the sail it is the foot that folds first into the lazyjacks.

 

[Bajansailor]

The higher up they are, the more likely they are to catch the leech as you are hoisting the sail.
Do they support a 'stackpak' bag (or similar) for the sail to drop into?
If they are literally just bits of strings (ie no bag) then you could have them higher, and you could 'take them forward' to get them out of the way when hoisting the sail (this is what we do with ours).

 

[duncan99210]

Mine run to the upper spreaders. Any lower and they wouldn’t make a good job of catching the leach properly.

 

[V1701]

I think they are less likely to snag if they're moved out somewhere along the spreaders (whichever set of spreaders you choose). I based my home made LJs on Jiffyjax, they're folded out of the way when raising the sail and go up to half way along the only set of spreaders I have...

 

[Daydream believer]

It is the way that you set them up that matters. If you have them on the lower spreaders the shallow angle clears the leach quicker on the hoist, which some may find better. However that does not help the drop so well as some of the leech may fall out on the drop because the trailing line is too shallow.
If you go higher up do npt set the lines so that the outer most line forms a straight line to the aftmost fixing point. What you need to do is set them so the trailing line forms a curve . This means that the leech clears them quicker on the hoist.That negates the hassle of moving them . A properly set up set will be adjusted at the start of the season & will need no further adjustment.
Mine are set 100mm out from the mast on the upper spreaders on a 14 metre mast ( above WL)

 

[fredrussell]

Thanks for replies. My lazyjacks are attached to a stack pack, should’ve mentioned that. I like the idea of lowering LJs before hoisting sail but if you do this doesn’t the flaked sail ‘fall off’ the boom in a big mess? To add to my difficulties it’s a fully battened main and batten pockets stick out a good couple of inches past leach. I’m down at boat tomorrow. I’ll do some experimentation based on all your suggestions and report back.

 

[Stemar]

I think they are less likely to snag if they're moved out somewhere along the spreaders (whichever set of spreaders you choose). I based my home made LJs on Jiffyjax, they're folded out of the way when raising the sail and go up to half way along the only set of spreaders I have...

Now that's neat. I prophesy some experimentation to see how the system of retractable LJs could work with a stack pack, preferably avoiding the "fallen off the boom big mess".

I've also considered the possibility of hanging my LJs from the spreaders, but mine take the full weight of the boom if I get careless, so I'm not sure if 50-year-old 1" spreaders would like that.