New boom cover to replace stackpack bag??

[Airscrew]

Our 12 year old stackpack is in desperate need of replacement. It is slightly torn in two places, and no longer waterproof despite Fabsil treatment, and rather faded.
I just took the main off this weekend and it was getting no benefit/protection from the stackpack bag.
The value of the boat doesnt really warrant an expensive replacement.

So,
is it possible to keep the 'guide ropes'(jacks?)- which currently loop into the top of the bag, and attach them direct to the side/bottom of the boom, and then buy a more affordable boom cover that could fit over the sail but inside the guides.
Yes more faff, (if it can be made to work), but less beer tokens.

Has anyone done this?
Any advice either way??

Thanks.

 

[William_H]

If it were my boat I would be looking to repair the old stack pack. Just patches sewn over the rips might do the job. Of course eventually the stack pack may become just too old brittle and prone to rips. I would not have imagined the stack pack is meant to be water proof. But may be wrong there. For me a sail cover is all about keeping sun off sail.
I don't think a simple sail cover would be easy to do if the jack lines are left in place. I would think it easier to make a new stack pack bag to the design of the original. Canvas work can be fun rewarding if you have a simple sewing machine and spare time during winter to fiddle. The fabric for the design can be expensive of course or use something cheap. ol'will

 

[ash2020]

Our 12 year old stackpack is in desperate need of replacement. It is slightly torn in two places, and no longer waterproof despite Fabsil treatment, and rather faded.
I just took the main off this weekend and it was getting no benefit/protection from the stackpack bag.
The value of the boat doesnt really warrant an expensive replacement.

So,
is it possible to keep the 'guide ropes'(jacks?)- which currently loop into the top of the bag, and attach them direct to the side/bottom of the boom, and then buy a more affordable boom cover that could fit over the sail but inside the guides.
Yes more faff, (if it can be made to work), but less beer tokens.

Has anyone done this?
Any advice either way??

Thanks.

I'm an upholsterer but also do canvas work. I would be happy to quote you for a new stackpack bag from the old pattern. If you send me a pic, I could give you a rough idea. Shouldn't be too costly.
Cheers, Andrew.
e4andy@gmail.com

 

[Tranona]

Our 12 year old stackpack is in desperate need of replacement. It is slightly torn in two places, and no longer waterproof despite Fabsil treatment, and rather faded.
I just took the main off this weekend and it was getting no benefit/protection from the stackpack bag.
The value of the boat doesnt really warrant an expensive replacement.

So,
is it possible to keep the 'guide ropes'(jacks?)- which currently loop into the top of the bag, and attach them direct to the side/bottom of the boom, and then buy a more affordable boom cover that could fit over the sail but inside the guides.
Yes more faff, (if it can be made to work), but less beer tokens.

Has anyone done this?
Any advice either way??

Thanks.

Yes, that used to be common, but normally the cover would have cutouts for the lazyjacks to pass through so that the cover can still be laced up under the boom. You can buy ready made covers from chandlers such as Force4 for about half the price of a basic stack pack.

 

[jane444blue]

I'm getting rid of my stackpack, rejigging lazyjacks to make them retractable (very simple to do) and using boom cover which I'm making. Main reason is I sail single handed, with halyard at the mast. Those lazy Jack's drive me crazy getting boat head to wind to hoist the main. Also main will be less scrunched and better ventilated when down.

 

[Stemar]

is it possible to keep the 'guide ropes'(jacks?)- which currently loop into the top of the bag, and attach them direct to the side/bottom of the boom, and then buy a more affordable boom cover that could fit over the sail but inside the guides.

I did this when setting up lazyjacks on my Snapdragon some years ago. I started off with the LJs tied off to a line running along the bottom of the boom to get the positions right and, once I was satisfied, I pop riveted eyes to the sides of the boom to fix them. Both methods worked equally well, but the eyes were a lot neater. You'll need to be able to lower the LJs at the mast to get the sail cover on, so fit 'em to cleats with enough slack to do this. My cleats had holes that I tied the end of each line to so they couldn't go walkabout.

 

[lustyd]

I just replaced mine for a 36 footer. Cost of materials was £150-£200 and would be the same for a stack pack or just a cover aside from a few quids worth of zip. Either way you’ll need to deal with sewing the fabric at least at the edges. Stack pack wasn’t a complicated project as it’s straight sewing so worth a go if you’re in any way craft minded.
Profabrics, Hawke House and Kayospruce all stock what you’d need.

I’d also certainly consider Ash2020’s offer if you don’t fancy sewing!

 

[Daydream believer]

Can you find someone with a decent quality sail bag ( sausage type) for a redundant mainsail sail. Rig it with the zip at the top & fit brass eyelets for the lazy jacks which you can tie to small dymema loops riveted to the boom. Put plastic stoppers on the lazy jacks to stop the cloth sliding down when the zip is undone. The reef lines will go under the boom inside the cover but you will need holes cut for the mainsheet attachment & vang. You could cut these with a hot knife reinforced with sail repair tape. The front of the bag will need a slot cut & sealed but it may be long enough to go round the mast & you could put pop studs or eyeletc to fasten it when leaving.The other end will just go over the end of the boom or have a cut out if you want. Stick a brass eyelet in for the topping lift.. That will hold the end out & stop it pulling forward.

 

[BabaYaga]

Has anyone done this?
Any advice either way??

With a traditional main sail cover, you can attach the jacks to the side of the boom, then take them under the boom and up on the opposite side.
That's how mine are set up, works well, no problem tying the cover under the boom.
If you have a loose footed main sail you only need attachment points on one side of the boom, as for instance the port side jacks can go first over (between sail foot and boom), then under boom and up.

 

[garymalmgren]

Sam made a pretty simple stack pack.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

With a traditional main sail cover, you can attach the jacks to the side of the boom, then take them under the boom and up on the opposite side.
That's how mine are set up, works well, no problem tying the cover under the boom.
If you have a loose footed main sail you only need attachment points on one side of the boom, as for instance the port side jacks can go first over (between sail foot and boom), then under boom and up.

Similar to ours. As we have a loose footed main but the sail cover runs in the boom sail track, the lazyjacks just run round the outside. Guided bt eyes under the boom, it works so well I have never even given it the slightest thought til this thread showed up.