Stack pack systems

[jonjo]

While at the SBS I compared various mainsail stack-pack products and realized there are subtle differences in these apparently low-tech systems.

At the end of my SBS day the front-runner was the version made by Quay Sails of Poole.

Here are the features I noticed and liked (not saying the Quay Sails offering had them all):

* Positive clipping mechanism for attaching the bonnet to the main pack cover.
* Ties to prevent the sides of pack flopping around while under sail.
* Internal sail ties.
* Offset zip running alongside one of internal battens helps one hand zipping up.
* Completely removable top cover.
* Colour matched webbing attachments.
* Light weight tape used for the bit that slides into the boom with the sail.

Are there other features I should ensure I get in my new Stack-pack?


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[snowleopard]

good strong zip
well reinforced around reefing line entries

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[pragmatist]

A supplier that takes less than an entire season to fit. PM me if you want to know who to avoid.

On looking at your bio you're unlikely to deal with this W Country supplier.

<hr width=100% size=1>a pragmatist is an optimist with a boat in the UK - but serious about not being in the UK !<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by pragmatist on 17/10/2004 13:10 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[Guest]

Post deleted by danfoley

 

[jonjo]

Most likely my will order will be placed with someone between Poole and Chichester.

> A supplier that takes less than an entire season to fit.

With my last boat a sail maker failed to appear for a week-end April appointment onboard, the next contact initiated by the sail maker was in late September. What a joke, I did not return the call.

Since I will be looking for December and January delivery on some purchases I hope the marine trade will be keen to do business and be able to deliver on time.

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[Robin]

Jonjo

Quay Sails are recognised locally as being the best for canvas work and we spent over £2100 with them this year on all new canvas. We didn't go for a Stakpak type sailcover in the end, though we did have one on our previous boat, but we do have lazyjacks that fold along the boom under the normal cover.

Robin


<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>

 

[peterbringloe]

About that zip

It's a good idea to have the zip covered with overlapping material held in place with velcro at intervals along its length. The same goes for the zip for the removable front bit.

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[jonjo]

> We didn't go for a Stakpak type sailcover in the end,
> though we did have one on our previous boat

Robin,

Given that you clock up more sea miles annually than many in this forum doing my type of sailing, as a precautionary measure I should ask why?

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[pragmatist]

Re: About that zip

It's an interesting thought - ours doesn't - but are you talking about preventing ingress of salt or UV effects or something I've not thought of ? Because the minor downside is having to undo/do up Velcro before/after zipping and ours is quite a long and awkward boom extending over sprayhood.

<hr width=100% size=1>a pragmatist is an optimist with a boat in the UK - but serious about not being in the UK !

 

[snowleopard]

zip extension

we had an extension of around 6" on the original zip. after a week's sailing it had got caught in the reefing lines and mangled. the replacement i hand sewed in its place stops at the end of the canvas and is of the type that separates into two halves, like an oilie jacket. it has worked fine in the subsequent 13000 miles!

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[Robin]

I liked the convenience of the Stakpak very much, however even with a flap over the zip, water found it's way through onto the sail and left a grey/black stain that went through several folds of the sail. We also had some mildew on the sail, probably caused by the lack of any ventilation through/under the Stakpak unlike a normal cover which is open along the bottom. With our latest boat the flaked sail with full length battens and roller bearing mast cars is quite bulky and the cover has to be big to cover it which with a Stakpak would leave bigger flappy bits with the sail in use. The existing standard cover was in good condition too so we left it for 2 seasons, by which time we got very practiced at rolling it back from clew to tack along the boom to remove it and reversing the roll to fit it, even though the cover was large. As I said, we do have lazyjacks and these are very necessary with just 2 of us and a big sail to flake, but these go to cleats on the mast , we slacken them off and they stow along the boom under the cover. We also have the option of stowing the lazyjacks whilst sailing a) to avoid chafe b) if we want to hoist/drop the sail when not head to wind.

The important thing is whatever the cover - use it! I am amazed at the number of boats where the sails are left exposed to UV even where Stakpaks are fitted left often not even zipped up never mind the front hood in place. Sailmakers will rub their hands in glee!

Robin

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>

 

[peterbringloe]

Yes - UV will eventually

be the death of the zip. The material on one side of the zip should overlap (ours does by about 2 inches) and naturally lies flat but is helped a bit by a few velcro tabs which is not a problem. I've also got additional zips on the outside at the top so that an awning can be attached - held out by poles fore and aft. Works well but boom must be held on centreline.

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[3reefs]

I was warned that the base can easily tear as you gently tease the sail cover plus the foot rope into the groove on the boom.

Consequently looked for a different approach.

Absolutely delighted by the cover I had made last year by Sanders in Lymington. The mainsail is now loose footed (and quite happy). The stacker cover now hogs the track in the boom and is a doddle to fit/remove. It was covered in purple plops last month and I was able to whip it off for a good clean, without removing the sail.

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[jonjo]

> I was warned that the base can easily tear

Indeed, I witnesed the owner of a neighboring yacht trying to fit one last year. Lots of cursing and increasing use of force.

I assume this is why Quay Sails make reference to use of "light weight tape" i.e. to reduced material congestion in the boom slot.

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[Robin]

Jomjo

If you will have a modern mainsail design as I suspect you will have then it will probably have a loose foot so the boom track will have loads of room for the Stakpack to go in. The cover maker will need to know this too so he can add a bolt rope to the Stakpack to slide in the groove otherwise there is nothing to hold it in place.

Robin

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>

 

[jonjo]

Thanks. I was half expecting the "flappy bits" criticism but water and mildew stains on the brand new mainsail I have not ordered yet, ouch!

Stack-pack systems tend to have a decent gradient fore and aft that should throw off heavy rain. Then under sun light I would have thought moist air would find enough apertures to vent away or even wriggle through the fabric weave as per gortex.

Back to enlarged flappy side panels to wrap the extra bulk of full-length battens. Maybe full-length battens create enough extra rigidity in the sail to allow the sides to end further back coupled with a larger bonnet to compensate?

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[jonjo]

> If you will have a modern mainsail design as I suspect you will
> have then it will probably have a loose foot

You preempted my next Scuttlebutt thread. I'll take it as read that my mainsail will be loose footed, something to do with a better sail shape when the foot of the sail can float free?

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[Guest]

Post deleted by danfoley

 

[snowleopard]

flappy bits...

here is my stackpack in action. notice that the side pieces are extended and attach to the sail so that the sides are pulled in when the sail is fully hoisted. when reefed the extension pieces fold into the sides along with the first reef. unfortunately, as you can see, the wind fills the gap between the panels and the sail which looks pretty bad.

also note the sail is loose footed and the stackpack is sewn to the foot. the rotation of the mast means that a stackpack attached to the boom would be in the wrong place.

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[clouty]

Re: Loose footed mainsail

The boat I sail on has a new loose footed main this season. Brilliant! More drive, better shape, and the added advantage of the slot twixt sail and boom to tame and snuff the spinnaker when dropping. Make sure to take the droppping line aft of the genoa sheet tho'

<hr width=100% size=1>clouty