Laminar Flow
Well-known member
Really? Me & the Missus must have missed that part in meteorology class.
Wind instruments (and other matters) - meh.
- Thread starter doug748
- Start date
Laminar Flow
Well-known member
For those who struggle with the esthetics/efficiency of stack packs: lazy jacks have the same the safety/handling features without the coloured triangle. Popularity is not necessarily a measure of usefulness; in the fifties most cars had fins; still didn't make them fly.
TernVI
Well-known member
The bit about air rising over hills causing coastal precipitation, or the special bit about Cowes and Cherbourg on bank holidays?
Laminar Flow
Well-known member
Ah, my mistake. Where we live hills are 2000m high and still have snow on them as we speak.The bit about air rising over hills causing coastal precipitation, or the special bit about Cowes and Cherbourg on bank holidays?
dom
Well-known member
mjcoon
Well-known member
Oh, weren't they modelled after fish? ;-)
Laminar Flow
Well-known member
Current model 250 sqft, previous ship 500 sqft/35kg
Laminar Flow
Well-known member
Can't speak for UK's 1950 car inspiration, could be fish? On our side of the pond it was rocket ships. Fish or fowl, made no difference.
dom
Well-known member
See my current main is just over 700sqft and being a laminate sail with taffeta both sides it is bulky and unpleasant to handle, even if it sets beautifully when sailing.
It‘s so much easier to just zip it up and lob on the front cover section than wrestle around without a stack pack.
On racing boats the sails come off every day so makes no difference but there is typically more crew.
A good thing choice ?
LONG_KEELER
Well-known member
I do wonder if we have all been sold a bummer by the ad men. When it comes to sailing, the conditioning pushes us into believing that convenience, comfort and speed is the guarantee of satisfaction and enjoyment.
LONG_KEELER
Well-known member
I like Laminar Flows concept of geriatric sailing aids. Anything that keeps you sailing must be a good thing. The mobility scooter of sailing in no particular order :-
Marinas
Furling Jibs
Furling Mains
Stack Packs
Bow Thrusters
Autopilots
Line Reefing
Electric Winches
Wheelhouses
Ancient Wisdom
Marinas
Furling Jibs
Furling Mains
Stack Packs
Bow Thrusters
Autopilots
Line Reefing
Electric Winches
Wheelhouses
Ancient Wisdom
Tranona
Well-known member
What a totally inappropriate comparison. Stackpacks only exist because they are functional and people find them useful as they combine lazyjacks with a sail cover. Form follows function.. Totally the opposite of fins on cars.
LadyInBed
Well-known member
Yes, they do look more elegant.
LadyInBed
Well-known member
That's me, just an old softy ?
LadyInBed
Well-known member
Not always the case, I don't have a wheel in my saloon, just a reliable Autohelm, unfortunately no remote control, so I have to put an arm out into the cockpit! ?
Laminar Flow
Well-known member
While I appreciate your contributions, Tranona, and I do not want to start an anchor thread on stack packs, I find it perfectly acceptable if someone has concerns regarding their impact on sail performance or, equally valid, feels they detract from the esthetics. While I do not wish to comment on the esthetics, a fair point could be made against disrupting the clean flow over 2-3' of one of the most important parts of the sail where the relationship between cord and mast diametre is one of the most advantageous in a triangular sail. When heeled, this disturbance becomes more pronounced, affecting an even greater area.
That said, I have considered to buy or make some myself, however my new sails are lose-footed and I suspect a stack pack might impact their set. I have lazy jacks instead and the 5 min it takes to put on the sail covers is no great hardship and allows me to check out the sail for potential damage and chafe in passing.
As far as the idea goes that popular appeal makes something right or useful: in the seventies mainsails became very narrow and tall, not just for racing, but on cruising boats as well, even though such a plan form is aerodynamically and over most courses significantly inferior. But, hey, they were super popular.
Daydream believer
Well-known member
With all due respect it is not just that.
I sail SH and after a long sail, I often find myself arriving at a port tired & on a rolling sea. (I never anchor) I have to get lines & fenders out, dodge pots & sometimes other boats. I start the engine, furl the jib & drop the main. I do not have the time to catch a swinging boom & try to control lots of stiff laminate cloth with sail ties whilst standing on the cabin top or the cockpit seats. Made more difficult by my lifelong difficulty with balance.
With my stackpack I can gather the sail at the mast & have some inbuilt straps to hold the sail until I am ready to start zipping up.
I do not get sections of sail dropping down in front of me when entering port. The lazy lines on their own are insufficient to retain the reef lines etc & I do not intend to fit more.
The effect on the sail is negligible & can be more than offset by being at the helm rather than being a greenhouse relying on an autopilot
To me a stack pack is an essential part of safe sailing.
Tranona
Well-known member
Once again not a valid comparison. Skinny mainsails came from racing rules which dominated cruising boat designs at the time because racing cruising boats was a popular pastime. As soon as that activity ceased to be popular and a selling point for boats, the feature was dropped like a stone.
A feature like a stackpack is totally consumer choice and therefore popularity is indeed a measure of its value. Alternatives are available, but still consumers make the choice. Are you saying they are wrong and don't know what they are doing? Smacks of arrogance to me as does your "appreciation" of my contributions. I shall treasure that.
Consumer choice rules OK.
dom
Well-known member
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Blueboatman
Well-known member
Don’t fancy parking that under sail