ted_reshetiloff
Contributing Partner
Someone asked me to post a description of the lazyjack system i have on Escape Plan our E-38 so here goes. First off I will suggest anyone considering lazy jacks to read Guys article on building your own the arrangement of legs in my system is very close to his. Second I must give credit to the splicing and install of my setup to Southbound Cruising Service in Annapolis. A rigging shop where I worked for 2008 as CFO and business manager. The system was my second quarter bonus... they can reached at 410-626-6060 and www.southboundcruising.com
The system is constructed of 1/8" Dyneema single braid around 250' several small stainless eye straps or fairleads, 2 Harken 19mm micro swivel blocks, a small cam cleat with fairlead, fastners, lifeseal for corrosion protection, and about 15' of 1/4" salsa for the control line. The system has 3 legs and each side runs up the mast to blocks attached to bottom of the the upper spreaders. The harken blocks are mounted about 8 inches out from the mast. This keeps the lazy jacks from slapping on the mast when stored. Each of the two lines then leads from the blocks to the mast where they enter the spar through two small holes on either side of the mast. The holes are about 2 feet down the mast from the upper spreaders so the lead into the mast is at a fair enough angle. The lines then lead down inside the mast where they are spliced together and then to the 1/4" salsa. This allows a single point of control for the lazy jacks. The salsa exits the mast just above the goosneck on the port side and leads to a cam cleat with a fairlead.
The lazy jacks are stored when not being used by easing the line and hooking the lazy jacks around the reef hooks at the gooseneck then snugging up. This way a conventional sailcover can be used without all the slits and snaps for the lazy jacks. This also means that when we hoist the main there is no way the lazyjacks can get fouled on the leech of the sail because they are stored forward. Because the control line is on the side of the mast it can easily be used at any point. The old system I had was the harken package (absolute crap IMHO) which was controlled from a cleat under the boom that was virtually inoperable with the sail flaked. There are no blocks or thimbles on the legs of the lazy jacks to chafe on the sail just dyneema with eye splices. The 1/8" dyneema has great UV resistance and is very strong. When its time to douse the main we unhook the lazy jacks from the reef hooks and snug the control line. Douse and flake the sail. Once secured with ties the lazy jacks are put away. I will try and get some photos.
The system is constructed of 1/8" Dyneema single braid around 250' several small stainless eye straps or fairleads, 2 Harken 19mm micro swivel blocks, a small cam cleat with fairlead, fastners, lifeseal for corrosion protection, and about 15' of 1/4" salsa for the control line. The system has 3 legs and each side runs up the mast to blocks attached to bottom of the the upper spreaders. The harken blocks are mounted about 8 inches out from the mast. This keeps the lazy jacks from slapping on the mast when stored. Each of the two lines then leads from the blocks to the mast where they enter the spar through two small holes on either side of the mast. The holes are about 2 feet down the mast from the upper spreaders so the lead into the mast is at a fair enough angle. The lines then lead down inside the mast where they are spliced together and then to the 1/4" salsa. This allows a single point of control for the lazy jacks. The salsa exits the mast just above the goosneck on the port side and leads to a cam cleat with a fairlead.
The lazy jacks are stored when not being used by easing the line and hooking the lazy jacks around the reef hooks at the gooseneck then snugging up. This way a conventional sailcover can be used without all the slits and snaps for the lazy jacks. This also means that when we hoist the main there is no way the lazyjacks can get fouled on the leech of the sail because they are stored forward. Because the control line is on the side of the mast it can easily be used at any point. The old system I had was the harken package (absolute crap IMHO) which was controlled from a cleat under the boom that was virtually inoperable with the sail flaked. There are no blocks or thimbles on the legs of the lazy jacks to chafe on the sail just dyneema with eye splices. The 1/8" dyneema has great UV resistance and is very strong. When its time to douse the main we unhook the lazy jacks from the reef hooks and snug the control line. Douse and flake the sail. Once secured with ties the lazy jacks are put away. I will try and get some photos.