Mainsail stack-pack cover with a high boom - how to close cover

[dunedin]

I have have seen (but not used) stack packs with the zipper on one side..

Any pictures of this type ? I wondered about this but couldn't see how you could have a zip lower, as would need to get past the lazyjacks which will be tied on to the top edges of the stack-pack sides to gather the sail when dropping.

 

[dunedin]

My thoughts would be to have the stack pack made about a foot longer than it needs to be and keep the outboard end of the zipper permanently connected, preferably stitched closed. Then use a simple line with a pulley at each end to open and close the zip. The only other thing you may need to do is move your reef lines slightly forward of the then of the boom so they can be used with the zipper open but still connected.

I wondered about that approach. for some reason the zips tend to be attached so that you unzip by sliding forward - and then off. Which requires connecting the two sections at the highest point with two hands (and none to hang on) before zipping backwards to close.
Is there a reason for this approach which would prevent swapping the orientation in this way ?

 

[dunedin]

My boat has a very high boom, as a cruiser it was one of the reasons for buying her. The main is new, hence stiff and and is difficult to stack short handed. The sail bag doesn't use a convenional zip it all. Instead, one side wraps over the other and is fastened by sewn-in ties around a small loop, low, near the boom and back to the edge of the fold-over fabric. At sea, I can only ever tie the front two or three ties. Those further aft are simply out of my reach. The boat has an A frame, arch, over the cockpit and I climb on it to complete the job once in harbour. All in all, it's fairly difficult but once done looks neat. Like others have said, I tend to free the bag and use sail ties before heading to sea.

Again any pictures ? I can see how this could work. Presumably though the side cover needs to be split into sections to fit round the lazyjacks ?

 

[prv]

for some reason the zips tend to be attached so that you unzip by sliding forward - and then off. Which requires connecting the two sections at the highest point with two hands (and none to hang on) before zipping backwards to close.

I don't remember ever coming across a stackpack that worked that way round. Certainly ours starts at the clew end of the boom and zips closed towards the tack.

Pete

 

[Martin999]

I don't remember ever coming across a stackpack that worked that way round. Certainly ours starts at the clew end of the boom and zips closed towards the tack.

Pete

+1 our one is longer at the end of the boom and stays zipped, and has a 30cm cord that you pull to zip closed as you tiptoe your way forward

 

[charles_reed]

I empathise, having had to deal with just such a problem - in the end I pulled the boom down as far as it would go on the mainsheet, hoisted the stackpack using the main halyard through the ends of the lazyjacks and did up the part from boom end to where I could handle the zipper by balancing on the cockpit combing. To get access I used the mainsheet traveller to get the boom close to one or the other combing - I did have to adjust the gas-strut to get the boom lower.

 

[Bobc]

Mine's above head height, and I just have a 2ft long bit of rope attached to the zip, so I can pull the string to open/close, rather than struggling to reach the zip.

 

[snooks]

How's this:

You just run a continuous line from the zip to a pulley attached to the topping lift (which will be under tension) through the inside of the stack pack (webbing tabs would help keep the line in place) out the front of the SP and back to the zip.

I just have a 4 inch bit of line on my zip, but I can reach it.

 

[Bobc]

How's this:

You just run a continuous line from the zip to a pulley attached to the topping lift (which will be under tension) through the inside of the stack pack (webbing tabs would help keep the line in place) out the front of the SP and back to the zip.

I just have a 4 inch bit of line on my zip, but I can reach it.

Now, that's a neat solution. Winter project No. 263 then!

 

[snooks]

Now, that's a neat solution. Winter project No. 263 then!

I'm not saying it will work, but it looks like it should.

 

[Bobc]

I'm not saying it will work, but it looks like it should.

I'll give it a try and report back.

 

[prv]

I'm not saying it will work, but it looks like it should.

It will need the clew end of the top of the stackpack held aft, otherwise instead of the zip running along the track it will just pull the fabric forward until the zip is twisted round and unable to move. But a lanyard or two to the topping lift should do the job. Alternatively, if the stackpack is being made from scratch, the end could be made with a shallow angle (bottom longer than top) so that the fabric fulfils the same role.

Pete

 

[Concerto]

How's this:

You just run a continuous line from the zip to a pulley attached to the topping lift (which will be under tension) through the inside of the stack pack (webbing tabs would help keep the line in place) out the front of the SP and back to the zip.

I just have a 4 inch bit of line on my zip, but I can reach it.

That is what I described in post #12.

 

[prv]

That is what I described in post #12.

I think that means you can claim a Lakesailor

Pete

 

[snooks]

I think that means you can claim a Lakesailor

Pete

Sorry, in post #12 there's no mention of a continuous line or it's routing in the stack pack, let alone the stunningly beautiful illustration...therefore your claim for a Lakesailor is rejected

Furthermore my continuous line saves a pulley so you would not need "a pulley at each end" as described in post #12

 

[mjcoon]

It will need the clew end of the top of the stackpack held aft, otherwise instead of the zip running along the track it will just pull the fabric forward until the zip is twisted round and unable to move. But a lanyard or two to the topping lift should do the job. Alternatively, if the stackpack is being made from scratch, the end could be made with a shallow angle (bottom longer than top) so that the fabric fulfils the same role.

Pete

In my earlier post I said the tension would have to come from the backstay, not topping lift. That is because the zip usually has to extend well past the clew, and the clew will be near the attachment point of the topping lift. This is so that when "unzipped" the stack-pack opening can fall clear of the sail to allow hoisting, while the two halves of the zip are still united ready for re-zipping. Of course the zip could be like that in a jacket where the two halves completely separate. However that would mean clipping the halves together again before re-zipping, which is exactly what we wish to avoid on the end of a swinging high-up boom!

But I am well aware that a connection to the backstay, however temporary, will be tricky on a high boom.

Maybe someone can invent a drum device which rolls up the zip extension while pulling the slider along this tricky initial portion?

Without such a solution I do not see how Snooks' mechanism can work; he has not drawn the crucial zip extension and therefore has not seen our objection. I bet if he thinks about what he does with his "4 inch bit of line" he will understand...

Mike.

 

[snooks]

My stack pack is fantasticly thought out by Crusader, I can't praise it enough. The zip is always captive and it goes on past the end of the stackpack (and the flappy end bit isn't flappy because it has Velcro on it and a tab inside the pack which the flappy bit adheres to). The stack pack is attached to both ends (tack and clew) of the boom, and the sides can be rolled away, while leaving the lazyjacks in place.

All that would need to be done to keep tension on the zip would be to attach it (via Velcro for instance) to a couple of thin battens or keep tension in it with a bitta bungee. None of which is any hardship, though the latter would be easier.

 

[charles_reed]

My stack pack is fantasticly thought out by Crusader, I can't praise it enough. The zip is always captive and it goes on past the end of the stackpack (and the flappy end bit isn't flappy because it has Velcro on it and a tab inside the pack which the flappy bit adheres to). The stack pack is attached to both ends (tack and clew) of the boom, and the sides can be rolled away, while leaving the lazyjacks in place.

All that would need to be done to keep tension on the zip would be to attach it (via Velcro for instance) to a couple of thin battens or keep tension in it with a bitta bungee. None of which is any hardship, though the latter would be easier.

Gosh, my 3rd Stakpack was made by Paul but doesn't have all those straps and buckles.

The end of the zip goes into the end of the boom and is adhered to a piece of stuck-on velcro.
Because I leave the lazy jacks up when sailing mine float free and I haul them up with the main halyard to lift the sides of the bag.
I do like the tape - but where are the reefing lines round the boom? I've got 4 (2 single line) and use them all.

 

[rotrax]

I have not read the whole thread but being a REAL shorthouse when we bought Jess I soon discovered I had the same problem.

After fitting two mast steps I discovered that standing on the cockpit edge with the boom held to Port enabled me to join the zip and pull it about 1/3rd of the way. I then lower the lazyjack on the Starboard side and zip it all the way-simples.........................

The reverse to un-zip -all at no cost!

 

[johnphilip]

All this scheming to pull the zipper by long lines certainly would not work for me. I have to work my way along the boom pushing the sail in to allow the sides of the stackpack to meet in the middle. Just pulling the zipper would have no chance. Do I need a bigger stackpack?