StackPak's

[AIDY]

StackPak\'s

Just bought a new fancy mainsail from North sails with a loose foot.

And I now require a stackpak system. Never had one before, I asked North about getting one made and they were going to sub it out. So I will be hunting around the boat show for the best quote / design.

Advice on design and manufacture to look at and stay clear of would be a great starting point. as I dont want to put holes in the new main due to rubbing like my current configuration.

TIA

 

[chrisbailey]

Re: StackPak\'s

Dolphin Sails at Harwich made me a very good one. It is designed to finish aft of the mast so that you do not require a separate loose cover for the forward part of the sail when stowed.
my previous cover was from Kemp which was also OK but did not have the advantage of my Dolphin one.

 

[davies]

Re: StackPak\'s

A friend of mine had a very good stack-pack for a loose-footed main made by Lucas Sails this year. An excellent sailmaker in all respects.

 

[fireball]

Re: StackPak\'s

Ours is an Arun Sails one - we ordered it a the London Boatshow a couple of years ago where they were offering "No VAT" ... ie 17.5% discount...

Check for delivery costs - as picking up a more expensive pack could be cheaper than having a less expensive one delivered!

Go to the show with the length of your boom and main and a colour if you want it matched.....

 

[alldownwind]

Re: StackPak\'s

You'll end up with a vote for everyone, but anyway.....we had one made by Quay Sails (they're at Poole) last winter and it is very well made indeed. Very pleased. And I think it was the cheapest quote of all the likely suspects.

 

[wingdiver]

Re: StackPak\'s

Ours (two) are by Kemps.
Perticularly liked the quality of the stiffeners and that there are ties so that you can keep the thing out of the way when the sail is deployed.

 

[nigelhudson]

Re: StackPak\'s

I was also in the market for a stackpack at SBS two years ago. I went round all the sailmakers asking them to give me their pitch on their product and their best show price. What struck me was most of the manufacturers, when asked to state what differentiated their product from the rest, merely stated that they are all the same.

The one that stood out was Quay Sails - they had some special features on their product which I'm sure they will be very willing to describe to you. Secondly their price was very competitive. I chose to drive to Poole to pick it up and they gave me some useful pointers (and a free booklet) on rigging the sail reefing. Two seasons on we've been delighted with the stackpack - it's made short-handed sail handling a doddle especially in difficult conditions.

Take an hour to go round all the sailmakers and see what you think.

 

[gandy]

Re: StackPak\'s

We're pleased with the Kemp one as well. If I was doing it again I wouldn't take their lazy-jacks, though. I don't see the need for all their blocks, but would just rig up light line with knots or loops as needed.

 

[jonjo]

Re: StackPak\'s

I did the rounds at the SBS 4 years ago and purchased a stack pack from Kemps. The exhibited stack pack from Quay Sails looked like the best at the show but since Kemp were making the mainsail as well it made sense to get the cover tailored to the sail in the one loft.

With a large mainsail (40 sq meters) I appreciate the stiffeners incorporated into the Kemp design, lesser designs just sew the lazy jack attachments into the cloth.

If I could improve my stack pack's design...

1 - I notice many new Jeanneaus have a partial bonnet incorporated in the flap sides, this means when in daily voyaging mode, 99% of the sun can be kept off the sail without the hassle of fitting the bonnet.

2 - I saw a French yacht this summer with the lazy jack tension adjusters at the forward cover attachment, thus avoiding lazy line cleats on the mast with associated tapping/frapping hassles.

3 - My next yacht will be more cruising oriented with in-mast reefing.

 

[Athene V30]

Re: StackPak\'s

Bought one 'off the shelf' from Compass - works well and was the best price and quickest delivery I could find at the time

 

[jimi]

Re: StackPak\'s

I've a stakpak that was designed for a non loosefoted main, however I've two mains (used at separate times I hasten to add, when used with the loose footed main I merely slide a suitable length of rope in the stakpak istead od the sail and hold in place with a couple of stitches, works well.