Stackpac zip

B

bromleybysea

Well-Known Member
Joined
10 Nov 2007
Messages
677
Location
Not Bromley anymore, yippee!!
Visit site
The old zip on the stackpac failed and my wonderful wife offered to put a new one in. After she proudly showed me her handiwork we realised that she had put the zip in the wrong way round- with the opening end at the mast- most zips have the opening end at the boom end. After some thought I decided to try it anyway and do you know, I think it might be better. No more balancing on a cockpit seat trying to tame a swaying boom and get the zip started- so much easier at the mast. Has anyone else a “back to front” zip? Is there a good reason why not?
 
I changed the "start" of the zip to the mast end this winter. Makes the job a thousand times easier. Why anybody thought that starting at the end of a boom was a good idea is beyond me.
 
If you have a long "puller" on the zip handle (ours is about two feet of narrow tape sewn together in several layers to make it stiff so you can poke the end to where you can reach it after having walked past the sprayhood) then I suppose it might dangle annoyingly from the end of the boom when the cover is closed. Wouldn't be hard to make some kind of stowage arrangement for it though.

I can't see any other problem.

When you come to the folds in the leech that tend to snag the conventional zip, an aft-going one would smooth down over them which is a bonus.

Pete
 
My zip runs from mast to boom end - this is my first stack pack so never thought it odd. I am fairly tall so do not find it hard to reach the zip but due to the extra sail folds at the mast the zip is higher compared to the boom end. The zip (at the boom end) extends for about a foot further than it needs to - it hangs down which makes it easier to hold it when it comes to re-zip it.
 
CrikeyChris said:
The zip (at the boom end) extends for about a foot further than it needs to - it hangs down which makes it easier to hold it when it comes to re-zip it.
Click to expand...

Now I'm confused which way your zip actually runs.

When the sail is stowed and the zip is closed, which end is the slider at? Mast, or clew end of the boom?

Pete
 
Sandy said:
I changed the "start" of the zip to the mast end this winter. Makes the job a thousand times easier. Why anybody thought that starting at the end of a boom was a good idea is beyond me.
Click to expand...

Well I have found that if you either forget or dont bother to unzip ours that it opens up on its own as I hoist the main. I am not sure how long the alternative opening would last on my boat!

I cant quite get to grips with this concept unless you are using a split zip. I assume you have to feed one side into the other to start it? I cant see how a closed zip (constantly engaged) can possibly work at the mast?
 
TSB240 said:
Well I have found that if you either forget or dont bother to unzip ours that it opens up on its own as I hoist the main. I am not sure how long the alternative opening would last on my boat!

I cant quite get to grips with this concept unless you are using a split zip. I assume you have to feed one side into the other to start it? I cant see how a closed zip (constantly engaged) can possibly work at the mast?
Click to expand...
I need to move the main halyard onto the sail head, then remove the boot. Therefore I am at the mast end of the boom and can start unzipping the stack pack as I am already there. With the boot on there is little chance that the stackpack is going to unzip itself, if it does I'll be working with my sail loft to solve that problem.
 
prv said:
Now I'm confused which way your zip actually runs.

When the sail is stowed and the zip is closed, which end is the slider at? Mast, or clew end of the boom?

Pete
Click to expand...

I think I am in the same boat so to speak!
 
My stack pack also starts at the mast -must easier. I have fitted a cord 'pull' on the zipper which is easy to find and operate. Also, make sure you have a 'cover' over the zip at the end of the boom, the zip backing material is polypropylene so WILL rot if left exposed to sunlight! If the pack has been well designed, very little of the zip will be exposed.
 
My wife was nearly thrown overboard off Barfleur when trying to start the zip at the outer end of the boom in a rolly sea. The mainsheet came unclipped and she was standing on the cockpit seat. The boom swung away from her then back and hit her in the midrift carrying her over the back of her knees hooked the guard rail and she clung on to the boom over the water. The boat rolled back and she was flung back onto the floor of the cockpit.
ever since we have had a zip that has started at the mast . This means i can start it when dropping the main and can zip it as i move aft thus saving another trip forward. Also i can hold the mast to steady myself whilst starting it off
 
This thread is riddled with the ambiguity of what is meant by the "start". of a zip.

In a zipped up state, the zipper on mine is at the mast, but the other end does not split. It doesn't need to.

I can see problems with a split zip if the ends have to be engaged at the clew (then zipped up towards the mast).

Whether the "start" should be at the mast or the clew rather depends on whether the zip is split ( like a jacket) or not (like a fly).
 
Are you sure? The start is where you start closing the zip. I was confused with split or not, I now understand that. :)
 
chewi said:
This thread is riddled with the ambiguity of what is meant by the "start". of a zip.

In a zipped up state, the zipper on mine is at the mast, but the other end does not split. It doesn't need to.

I can see problems with a split zip if the ends have to be engaged at the clew (then zipped up towards the mast).

Whether the "start" should be at the mast or the clew rather depends on whether the zip is split ( like a jacket) or not (like a fly).
Click to expand...

Nicely described; the same as mine !
 
Whether the zip starts at the mast or boom end don't you still have to get to the boom end, to either finish closing the zip or start closing the zip, or start opening the zip or finish opening the zip.
Not trying to confuse matters but you have to get to the boom end sometime.
 
greeny said:
Whether the zip starts at the mast or boom end don't you still have to get to the boom end, to either finish closing the zip or start closing the zip, or start opening the zip or finish opening the zip.
Not trying to confuse matters but you have to get to the boom end sometime.
Click to expand...

true enough, but why make it difficult by joining a split zip at the unstable end? Thay can be fiddly even on a jacket.
Why even have a split zip at all?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top