What I like about lazy jacks is that they keep the excess sail from cluttering up the cockpit. My reasoning for wanting to install them is 1) I've overcome my fear of drilling holes in my spars 2) if I should be beating in a Force 5-6, a downwind run is downright scary. Most of the more extreme Wayfarer sailors will go downwind under jib alone quite comfortably. On one occasion I was broad reaching in a force 5 under reefed main. Despite my precautions I still managed to lose control and nearly ended up on the rocks. On that occasion I would have preferred to lower the main and unfurl the jib but I knew that if I were to do that the wind would catch "all that cloth" and give me a real problem.

Don makes an excellent point about the battens being caught in the jack lines during the hoist. My "theory" for that problem is to shorten the battens a bit so they don't catch, even if means that the battens are a bit short in the batten pockets. Another thing to take into consideration, is what length should the jacklines be? If they are too short they will not allow the sail to attain its proper shape.

I will be following this thread quite closely to see what others have to say.

Th grand total to install the Lazy jack system is $23.41 (about the cost of a bottle of rum)

------------------
Robert
Celtic Kiss #2120