New Stack Pack fitted

[DOK]

Since buying my Scanyacht 391 at the back end of last season, I have been steadily working through fixing or replacing various items. Earlier this season, the zips on the stack pack started to part company with the cover itself. The cover had clearly been repaired more than once and some of those repairs looked a little crude! All in all, I decided a new stack pack was probably a better bet than further repairs.

Yesterday, I went down to Gosport to fit the brand new stack pack from Kemp Sails. Why is it that any task that feels like it should be fairly straightforward will actually turn out to be anything but?

Getting the old stack pack off was actually the biggest challenge, it was catching on just about everything :disgust:

Anyway, finally managed it and it does look good! Hopefully will be showing it off on the water this weekend

 

[Sailfree]

My new one from Crusader Sails should be ready this week.

Will post about results.

 

[JumbleDuck]

I binned mine yesterday. The sense of relief is enormous.

 

[Sneaky Pete]

There is a fairly new one on mine. It has the zip on the left side of the bag the previous boat was in the center. Does it matter well yes a center one can be easily zipped from both sides.

 

[JVL]

I binned mine yesterday. The sense of relief is enormous.

I'm just thinking of making one, why the relief in binning it ?


John

 

[JumbleDuck]

I'm just thinking of making one, why the relief in binning it ?

My boat is 26' long, which seems to be the crossover point between annoyance and convenience for stack packs. In my case the damn thing jammed every time the sail went up or down, and I reckon that even with flaking and tying the sail down I will save time overall.

On a bigger boat I expect I would keep them if I had them and fit them if I didn't have them.

 

[john_morris_uk]

My boat is 26' long, which seems to be the crossover point between annoyance and convenience for stack packs. In my case the damn thing jammed every time the sail went up or down, and I reckon that even with flaking and tying the sail down I will save time overall.

On a bigger boat I expect I would keep them if I had them and fit them if I didn't have them.

I can understand your sentiment.

For those who are wondering about the efficacy of them, I can say that with ours its possible to catch the first two battens on the lazy jacks but with care it never happens. Once the main is 1/4 up you just hoist away. Lowering the main means flaking the main halyard out and coming to windward and knocking the clutch off. The main almost always completely self stows and all thats' left to do is to zip it up. Its extremely convenient.

We have got a track with sliders and a fully battened main though.

 

[JumbleDuck]

We have got a track with sliders and a fully battened main though.

That would make a huge difference. I have slugs in a mast slot, so the sail has to be pulled down (not too hard, but definitely needs pulled) and traditional battens which were just right for jamming under the lazyjacks on the way up and folding over them on the way down.

It's possible that I'll relent - I'm not throwing the old cover away just yet - but I'll be quite surprised if I do.

 

[Pauly]

I am in the process of replacing my old tatty boom cover and intend to go for a stack pack. I have had one quote so far and was quite surprised at how expensive it seems. Could I be a bit cheeky and ask those that are happy to do so to give some idea of what they have paid for theirs?

 

[lpdsn]

and traditional battens which were just right for jamming under the lazyjacks on the way up and folding over them on the way down.

On my boat I just blame the batten pocket design. I don't think I've ever sailed on any boat that had a main with such a stupid design of pocket. I'm certainly looking forward to getting rid of the main when I can face the bill for a new one.

In the meantime it just means extra care is needed when hoisting.

 

[lpdsn]

I am in the process of replacing my old tatty boom cover and intend to go for a stack pack. I have had one quote so far and was quite surprised at how expensive it seems. Could I be a bit cheeky and ask those that are happy to do so to give some idea of what they have paid for theirs?

£600 about 8 years ago. Boom is something like 6.2m. I bought it as part of a deal involving a new sprayhood. It was also Oct, which is often when sailmakers prices are lowest.

 

[Tranona]

I am in the process of replacing my old tatty boom cover and intend to go for a stack pack. I have had one quote so far and was quite surprised at how expensive it seems. Could I be a bit cheeky and ask those that are happy to do so to give some idea of what they have paid for theirs?

Depends in part on the length of boom, the material you choose, the complexity of the design and whether you have lazyjacks or not.

My top of the range material and thread custom design for a 13' boom without lazyjacks or mast boot from Kemps cost £450 4 years ago.

So in the range £4-600 would be reasonable.

 

[fredrussell]

Depends...and whether you have lazyjacks or not.

Don't stack packs always have lazyjacks then? I thought they were an integral part of the design?


I have lazyjacks but no stackpack. Bit of a nuisance on hoisting the sail (compared to no lazyjacks) but an absolute godsend on dropping the sail. I made my own lazyjacks - cost about £15 quid.

 

[[70521]]

A bit of a general question, what way does the zip go? From the mast to the end of the boom or the end of the boom to the mast.

My current stackpack goes from the end of the boom to the mast, which just feels wrong - why start the zipping at the point that has most movement.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Mine zips from end of boom to mast and I have no problem with it. I tuck any bits of reefing pennant in as I zip it up.

 

[DOK]

I am in the process of replacing my old tatty boom cover and intend to go for a stack pack. I have had one quote so far and was quite surprised at how expensive it seems. Could I be a bit cheeky and ask those that are happy to do so to give some idea of what they have paid for theirs?

Mine was around £550 for a 4.75m boom. That was for the full cover including the boot to wrap round the mast. I already had a lazy jack system so I just needed the cover.

David

 

[DOK]

A bit of a general question, what way does the zip go? From the mast to the end of the boom or the end of the boom to the mast.

My current stackpack goes from the end of the boom to the mast, which just feels wrong - why start the zipping at the point that has most movement.

Actually, I find it helps to zip from the boom end, I can tidy up the sail as I go.

David

 

[Tranona]

Don't stack packs always have lazyjacks then? I thought they were an integral part of the design?


I have lazyjacks but no stackpack. Bit of a nuisance on hoisting the sail (compared to no lazyjacks) but an absolute godsend on dropping the sail. I made my own lazyjacks - cost about £15 quid.

Yes, but if it is a replacement you may not need them or like you can make your own. would probably add £50 to the cost .

 

[Tranona]

A bit of a general question, what way does the zip go? From the mast to the end of the boom or the end of the boom to the mast.

My current stackpack goes from the end of the boom to the mast, which just feels wrong - why start the zipping at the point that has most movement.

Like many things there are arguments for and against either. Personally I prefer from the mast which i think is the more common.

 

[Poignard]

I have lazy jacks only. To avoid them snagging the sail battens when hoisting the sail, I pull the lazy jacks forward to the mast and only deploy them before lowering the sail.

Can you do that with a stack pack? All the ones I have looked at in marinas look as if the lazy jacks for the stack pack are fixed. How do people hoist the sail without them snagging (other than by motoring dead to windward)?