Stack pack with a bolt roped main sail

[firstascent2002]

I'm thinking about making a stack pack but am not sure if it will work as my main does not have slides and instead has a bolt rope. Anyone got a similar set up? Do you think it would work with nothing to hold the sail at the mast foot?

PS two pods of dolphins on the trip back from the Helford to Plymouth on Monday. Cracking sail!

 

[seumask]

They can work with a bolt rope, but the main reason for having one to help with the sail handeling can be negated as you may have to manually help the sail bolt rope into the mast slot as you hoist the main. They usually work much better with slides. Its a failry simple operation for you or a sailmaker to add slides to the main depends how practical you are.

 

[Severnman]

My Foxhound 24 has a simolar arrangement. I agree with Firefly - it can be a bit od a kerfuffle especially as I have my halyards led aft to the cockpit. Ok if you have crew!!

 

[Patricia]

We have a bolt roped main. Recently had a stack pack made and fitted
(+ new lazy jacks) with a view to having a new fully battened slider main installed next season. SWIMBO still complains about hoisting requiring three hands, but we haven't found any other drawbacks so far.

 

[explores]

Imagine a envelope ,with the flap. hang the ends of the envelope on the ends of the boom,let the sail fall into it,then close the flap with plastic clips. I made one for my boat that has a bolt rope and it works fine. You only have to take it of while sailing. No sail ties,to do.

 

[William_H]

I also have a bolt rope on my main and have kept it that way for 25 years. I have sailed on many boats with sliders and I still stick with bolt rope. Partly for ease of reefing.
I have a sail guide to ease the entry of the bolt rope. PM me if want to make one.
I usually sail with a crew so flaking the main is not a problem but it is difficult single handed.
I also sail off and back onto a swing mooring so main is dropped only after mooring. Tides are not usually a problem.

So I would imagine to use a stack pack you have to position yourself at the mast to pull down the main and control the head once it has exited the track.

The bottom line is to keep experimenting to see what suits you. That is part of sailing. olewill