Stack pack

lustyd

lustyd

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Hi all, has anyone made their own stack pack? If so, what did you use to keep the sides up? The ones I've looked at all seem to have some kind of pole on either side for the lazy jacks connect to. I've had a look around but can't find anything which seems like a standard for this.
I'm thinking of using some plastic pipe from B&Q since mine is only a 3m boom but any suggestions are welcome.
Cheers
Dave
 
Bamboo cane? Probably stiffer than plastic water pipe in the sort of sizes you need.

It's not exactly a high-tech application, so anything the right sort of size and stiffness would do.

Pete
 
prv said:
Bamboo cane? Probably stiffer than plastic water pipe in the sort of sizes you need.

It's not exactly a high-tech application, so anything the right sort of size and stiffness would do.

Pete
Click to expand...

I had considered bamboo (I fettled almost everything in B&Q at the weekend). I couldn't find any long enough though, neither could I find any smooth or straight enough to satisfy my OCD :)
 
There is such a thing as fibreglass rod as a raw material. No idea as to prices. Perhaps worth a google and a quick check on eBay?

Pete
 
prv said:
There is such a thing as fibreglass rod as a raw material. No idea as to prices. Perhaps worth a google and a quick check on eBay?

Pete
Click to expand...

Ah this is why I like this forum! much cheaper than proper battens although almost certainly the same stuff :)
Cheers
Dave
 
My stiffeners (ooh er missus!:)) are about 10mm fibreglass rod. No bending from suspension points. A bit longer than yours but not much.
When I had mine made I specified that the lazyjacks should tie directly to the stiffeners so that there were no eyes or loops involved in the suspension. A small cutout in the pack at each suspension point suffices. Now in it's 6th year and no repairs necessary yet, although the zip will probably need replacing next year.

boomcover.jpg
 
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Mine has the long sail battens.

Make sure that the zip along the top of the cover has a flap over it to keep the sun off - it is the UV that destroys the zips.
 
When I made mine I bought 10mm fibreglass rods, I think from the same place I got the long zip from- can't remember who now though! I was given a few tips at the time, including making a flap for the zip and not having the top of the 'box' too big/broad, so it doesn't collect rainwater. Mine looks identical to alahol2's, except I tied the lazyjack lines to rings slipped over the rods, because I found the rods shed tiny particles of glass onto my hands when handling them, and I didn't want bits of glass in the lines. I put a strip of 1000mm wide dacron tape at the bottom to slide easily into the groove in the boom; the only thing I would do differently another time is make it slightly bigger (it's a bit tight, hard to do the zip up- but that's because I was very short on material cos I managed to use the old mainsail cover for the canvas).
 
alahol2 said:
When I had mine made I specified that the lazy jacks should tie directly to the stiffeners so that there were no eyes or loops involved in the suspension.
Click to expand...

Definitely the preferred method. I used webbing for mine which is a mistake as apparently it's much less UV resistant than acrylic canvas.

Having said that mine must be 5 years old.

I used 1" plastic waste pipe but it's a bit floppy...
 
alahol2 said:
My stiffeners (ooh er missus!:)) are about 10mm fibreglass rod. No bending from suspension points. A bit longer than yours but not much.
When I had mine made I specified that the lazyjacks should tie directly to the stiffeners so that there were no eyes or loops involved in the suspension. A small cutout in the pack at each suspension point suffices. Now in it's 6th year and no repairs necessary yet, although the zip will probably need replacing next year.

boomcover.jpg
Click to expand...

Nice. It is always the zips that go firts isn't it.
 
Lazy Jack Poles

Used 10mm replacement tent poles from ebay, come in sections, with joints and elastic up the middle. Used electricians tape to stop them coming apart. The top of my lazyjacks were turned over and sewed to form a tube but leaving a section with to be held together with velcro. Sewed up both ends. This allows you to assemble rod sections down the tube and cut to the correct length. Remember the joiners are about 75mm long so you have to be able to bend the poles enough to get joiners in. You need an eyelet in the boom end to tension the outer end to the boom.

Cheers

Nigel
 
NigelFortune said:
Used 10mm replacement tent poles from ebay, come in sections, with joints and elastic up the middle. Used electricians tape to stop them coming apart. The top of my lazyjacks were turned over and sewed to form a tube but leaving a section with to be held together with velcro. Sewed up both ends. This allows you to assemble rod sections down the tube and cut to the correct length. Remember the joiners are about 75mm long so you have to be able to bend the poles enough to get joiners in. You need an eyelet in the boom end to tension the outer end to the boom.

Cheers

Nigel
Click to expand...

Thanks Nigel. I looked into it and for 8mm GRP rods at 3m length it will total £12 for the two so I think I'm going to go for that and avoid the effort of cutting and taping etc. I considered tent pole kits but these were quite a bit more expensive in the shops.
 
Fishing Rods

When I had this problem I was lucky enough to find a pair of cheap fibre glass fishing rods in an anglers shop. I only needed the two stronger sections of each rod. They were more than strong enough for my 27 footer. Although I sold the boat some years ago they are still giving good service.

You might consider velcro instead of a zip to close the sail in the bag. When you put the main up it just pulls though the velcro, whereas with a zip you have to get up and undo the zip. When you pack the sail away you can start anywhere on the boom that takes your fancy.

Wishing you good luck with it.

Lofty
 
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