Stackpack: I'm not at all convinced.

As I also said lazyjacks and stackpacks MAY be useful on liveaboard blue water boats but I would be worried about the windage up high in severe conditions.
.

Suggest you read my straw poll above where I report an almost 2:1 in favour of stack packs and of the 30 boats in my sample only 3 or 4 could be classed as potential bluewater cruisers. As it happens they are all typical S Coast cruisers.

You are, however right that their usefulness increases with boat size and reduces with number of crew. Therefore a well crewed club racing boat like the several Elan 333s in my sample do not really benefit from a stackpack. The more typical shorthanded cruising boats such as Southerly 35, Westerly Discus, Bavaria 32, Malo 34, Hanse 370 (all my near neighbours) etc definitely do.

Why can't you (and some others here) accept that people are intelligent enough to work out for themselves what is useful for them and don't take kindly to being told they are wrong, particularly from people who don't have the same experience and have different expectations from their boat.
 
Why can't you accept that people are intelligent enough to work out for themselves what is useful for them and don't take kindly to being told they are wrong, particularly from people who don't have the same experience and have different expectations from their boat.

Because, as usual, Andrew's law applies: 'If it isn't on an A22, or it isn't an A22, or it has been invented post 1973, it's worthless'.

This rule appears to be universal.
 
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Because, as usual, Andrew's law applies: 'If it isn't on an A22, or it isn't an A22, or it has been invented post 1973, it's wothless'.

This rule appears to be universal.

I know, but no harm in reminding him there is another world outside his own - not that he will ever accept it.
 
And as usual you two vultures don't read what I say .... :rolleyes:

Please do not insult our intelligence.

I at least am perfectly capable of reading what you write - lifetime experience of critically reading for a living - and understand exactly what you write and mean. I am sure Angus can claim the same.

Hence the replies and observations. You need to read what you write from the perspective of the reader, not yours. Then you will appreciate how out of touch you are with the majority.
 
I do not require sage advice from you about boat handling, though nasty remarks are much more your line so don't act indignant if I and others retaliate.

On a boat in a harbour or restricted channel lazyjacks may well require one to point to wind rather too more accurately than narrow space allows, let alone getting other passing boats ( often with novice crews who cannot be expected to recognise what one is trying to do ), current and wind to comply - and my part of the harbour is very quiet compared to places like Itchenor where unless one had handed the main well beforehand it would be asking to end up on next days' youtube.

Being an ex racing dinghy type ( and about to do it again in another Osprey ) I like like fiddling with bits of line and rigging, and tried various positions for lazyjacks - they were far too much faddle on my boat, but as I say I'm used to her, this is our 40th season.

As I also said lazyjacks and stackpacks MAY be useful on liveaboard blue water boats but I would be worried about the windage up high in severe conditions.

That's the simple version for you.

Read my post again.
Did I say or claim I was giving "sage advice"?
What "nasty remarks" have I made on this thread?

You still haven't answered my question on #75.

On the subject of "nasty" your post #83 is a great insight into your attitude, so stop accusing others.
 
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Please do not insult our intelligence.

I at least am perfectly capable of reading what you write - lifetime experience of critically reading for a living - and understand exactly what you write and mean. I am sure Angus can claim the same.

Hence the replies and observations. You need to read what you write from the perspective of the reader, not yours. Then you will appreciate how out of touch you are with the majority.

You are in danger of being beached, making such remarks against a listed forumite.;)
 
And as usual you two vultures don't read what I say .... :rolleyes:

I read this...

...either a radical slight roach weirdo design, or a more sensible job with about 60 harken blocks with battens and lines 20' out behind

It didn't make any sense though. Can you explain what a radical slight roach is, or what boats have mainsails with 60 Harken blocks & battens & lines trailing 20 feet out behind?
 
I read this...



It didn't make any sense though. Can you explain what a radical slight roach is, or what boats have mainsails with 60 Harken blocks & battens & lines trailing 20 feet out behind?

Angus,

Let me explain slowly as I can - it was a mickey take on some modern radical designs - a joke.


Tranona,

it would be impossible to insult you, merely to describe.
 
I'm surprised nobody has made a batten which can sit flush with the leech, and still be accessible when necessary.

P'raps they just need to be an inch or so shorter. If they didn't stick out, they wouldn't snag the lazyjacks.

I would buy those flush battens.

If the lazy jacks don't get caught around that sticky-out bit, then the topping lift does. Either way, it's out to get you. :p

Richard
 
I'm with you and Neal B too.

Even lazyjacks are a pain on my 22' boat - I tried them, for about 30 minutes adjusting and playing and that was enough - then I am well used to my boat.

I've crewed on a few boats with stackpacks - inc a Centaur so at the 26' threshold I also agree with -and found them a right pain, lovely to be able to zip the sail away but getting to that point was not fun.

I also worry about the high - in both ways - windage of stackpacks if caught in severe conditions.

On a big boat, maybe, but anything 26-28' or less I can't help thinking they're a fashion accessory.

Andy, I do not really understand that statement, in particular in reference to size. Relative novices we may be, but the convenience and benefit of lazyjacks on our 24ft boat is very obvious to us, and now we have mastered them, we would not be without them, it is simply so much easier - and safer than - clambering about on our tiny boat. Our pack also has openings for the reefing lines, which all come back to the cockpit, as well as the lazyjack lines themselves. When we are less busy sailing we are getting the mainsail sliders all converted to cars so the sail drops better as that is our only remaining bugbear.
 
I would buy those flush battens.

If the lazy jacks don't get caught around that sticky-out bit, then the topping lift does. Either way, it's out to get you. :p

Richard

These any good?
Standard on both my Hyde mainsails
As for the topping lift- once the sail is up I just ease it a little.
& finally, I think that my stack pack is great ( 31 ft boat)

batten ends.jpg
 
Perfect. :)

How are the battens held in place?

Richard

they are pushed in from the mast end & tensioned by screws at the cars.

as an aside I note that some have commented about windage.
I found this photo & in the grand scheme of things I do not accept that in a cruising situation the windage is a major factor.
If racing then it is a diffent matter. But then with laminate sails stowage & folding is another issue anyway. Hyde tell me that my Fibrecon sail will be OK in my stack pack. I do try to flake it into the bag before zipping up

stack pack (2).jpg
 
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On most boats I have crewed and seen, the main in a stackpack is WAY more windage than a harbour stowed sail and cover ( which may itself be too much if things get serious ); enough to make a little ' red alert ' light glow, ' ' this could be a big problem in a serious storm '.

Like white waterproofs being trendy but lethal, being able to zip up a sail may look the part and help the sailmakers' lifestyle, but as the thread title says, I'm not convinced.
 
On most boats I have crewed and seen, the main in a stackpack is WAY more windage than a harbour stowed sail and cover ( which may itself be too much if things get serious ); enough to make a little ' red alert ' light glow, ' ' this could be a big problem in a serious storm '.

Like white waterproofs being trendy but lethal, being able to zip up a sail may look the part and help the sailmakers' lifestyle, but as the thread title says, I'm not convinced.

Sprayhoods & furled headsails have considerable windage. Do you eschew them too?
 
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