Re: Lazyjacks

hlg@pacbell.net
Thu, 25 Nov 1999 12:37:32 -0800


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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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That's a neat idea and should work fine, but it should be adjustable
underway so it can be eased to avoid interfering with sail shape.

I have long used a single-line lazy jack with Manatee--first when gunter
rigged and now with the lateen rig. I have attached a line at the mast stay
attachment, routed it under the boom (through an eyestrap or behind a
hook), back up to a block at the other stay, then down the mast to a
turning block or fairlead, and back to a cleat near the cockpit. No topping
lift is needed.

The cleat allows adjustment, which is desirable because I can pull the boom
higher to provide more cockpit headroom when I'm not sailing, and I can
ease the lazyjack to avoid interfering with sail shape when underway.

You can use a fixed line instead of an adjustable one, but the boom will be
lower than you might want when the sail is down. A single line contains
most of the sail, but some will be hanging down and can be in your face if
the boom is low. A more elaborate lazyjack would contain the sail better,
but I like the simpler, adjustable one-line setup. You can use light
line--3/16 or 1/8 inch perhaps.

With the gunteror or lateen rig, the lazy jack supports both spars as well
as most of the sail. It should work as well for just the boom and sail of
the "standard" P15s.

Your idea may be better. It should confine the sail better with two or more
lines under the boom. The topping lift line would have to go over a block
at the masthead and be routed down the mast and back to a cleat near the
cockpit.

Like may things, either system will make sailing easier but complicate
rigging slightly.

Harry (very thankful for all my Potter friends) Gordon
P14 #234, Manatee
Mountain View, CA

>A pre-Turkey thought: Has anyone ever tried to create a simple lazyjack
>system for a Potter 15 by dropping a line or two from the mid-point
>of the topping lift to the mid-point of the boom? Sounds so simple that
>there must be something wrong with the idea!
>Happy Thanksgiving to all.
>BILL, "Bilzbote" NC