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Submitted on September 21, 2006 by Johan Jonkman

Question: I have a 38-foot Catalina and would like to make it easier to handle the mainsail. Would you recommend a Dutchman or a Lazy Jack or does North Sails have something like a "mack pack?"

Thank you,
Diana Kryston

Answer: Hi Diana,

All the systems you mention are good alternatives and have their pros and cons. If you are primarily day sailing and sail short-handed any of these will work fine. Here are some things to consider about each before making your choice.

Dutchman™
This is the best self flaking device of the group; however the system requires that monofilament guide lines run in and out of the mainsail from the boom up to the topping lift. Over time these lines chafe on the sail and seams. Also because they are always deployed, even when the main is covered, any dirt gathered by moisture on these lines will run down and into the sail, resulting in vertical striping when the mainsail is hoisted. Not a pretty look. Also because the Dutchman is always deployed, it requires special cut outs in your mainsail cover. The good news is the Catalina 38 has a short boom, so all you’d have only 2 of these vertical control lines. (http://www.mvbinfo.com/dp_03_SF_brochure.html)

Lazy Jacks
There are several methods used to install Lazy Jacks. One is to terminate them on the mast and then adjust them at boom level. Another, and the one I prefer, is mounting them on the side of the mast or from the spreaders with halyards on either side so you do all the adjusting at the mast by the gooseneck. The big plus here is it allows you to bring them forward while under sail, alleviating the mainsail chafe issue as well as the need to modify your cover. Again a two bridal Lazy Jack should do the trick.

Quick Cover™
We do also have our own mainsail handling system called a Quick Cover™ (http://na.northsails.com/Cruising_Sails/QuickCover.htm) that combines an easy to manage mainsail cover with the Lazy Jacks. These have grown incredibly popular with charter fleets and day-sailors. The only drawbacks to this system are that the cover remains up under sail and again you might see some chafe on seams over time.

North Sails can incorporate any of these systems to your sail. Retrofitting the Dutchman™ may require some additional modification ($$) to the mainsail. The Quick Cover™ and Lazy Jacks normally require none.

And finally regarding cost, the Lazy Jacks and Dutchman™ (installed on a new sail) are likely to be in the same ballpark at between $500 and $800 depending on whether you or a rigger do the installation. The Quick Cover™, as the name implies, serves as both a Lazy Jack system and a mainsail cover would be $900 to $1200 again depending on who installs the system. Typically a main cover alone is going to cost close to this so the Quick Cover™ is a good value.

I hope you find this information useful and don’t hesitate to contact us again if we can be of any more assistance.

Regards,
John Gladstone
john.gladstone@northsails.com

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