Mainsail handling system

[seaya]

Good morning, I have owned my D41 for 13 years now and a member of DOA but a first for the forum.

I have an 83 D41 ketch, “SEAYA”. A few years ago I had a cockpit full enclosure made and am quite pleased with it. With a full enclosure comes the drawback of not having complete access to the boom length. I am now interested in a Doyle stackpack system for the mainsail. Included in this upgrade, I would also install the “Tides track on the mast.
I would like to hear from anyone that has a similar condition to mine. Including comments on stackpack in general. I currently run a dutchman system on a used bacon main. It works but unless you have good access to the boom, forget it. Makes even putting sail cover on, very difficult.

Thanks,
P. LeBeau

[Fleet Captain]

Hi Peter and Welcome to the Forum,

I have a friend with StackPack installed on his Beneteau 40. Seems to do everything the brochure says. Combination of lazy jacks and cover contain the sail nicely. That said, I suspect that zipping and unzipping the cover might present a challenge as the zipper is on top of the pack that now is even higher above the boom than your flaked main sits now. Perhaps you could run a light line fore and aft from the zipper pull. Full battened main completes the package.

[Rshel34]

I have had a Mack Pack for a number of years. Zipping and un-zipping is not a problem. The zipper pull has a line attached that runs fore and aft and you can unzip or zip from anywhere along the boom The Mack Pack is very similar to the Stack Pack. Really makes handeling the main a piece of cake under all conditions.

Bob S
D36 “Aequanimitas”

[Mike Aitken]

Hi Peter & Welcome!

We have a MackPack style system on both the main & mizzen on our 36 ft Ketch & find that they make life so much easier. They do pretty much what they promise – and can be zipped easily. Much easier than fighting with the sail cover & a real time saver.

My brother put a Doyle Stack Pack on his Cal 39 and is very pleased by the performance of the Doyle system – in fact that’s why we looked at them for “Iris”.

The difference between the Doyle & Mack system is that Doyle sews their system to the sail & uses rigid rods on the upper section of the pack. You have to take the sail to a Doyle loft. Mack Packs are not attached to the sail and do not use a hard rod on the top of the pack – no need to go to a sail loft to sew on – they will send them to you pretty much complete. We both self-installed the lazyjacks are both happy with our respective systems.

We both have conventional track systems – McLube on sail tracks makes dropping/raising sails pretty easy. Both Mains are full battens top 2 & 1/2 battens for the lowwer 2-3.
Mike

[seaya]

Thanks for your replies. I am familiar with the mack pack. It is time for the main to be replaced. With that in mind, I am leaning towards a Doyle system sewn into the new main. I have seen the Tides track work and it looks like a very good retrofit. I am tired of sticking slugs, no matter how much lube, vasoline etc.
Mike, I see in the directory you keep your boat in Westport? We are at the head of the bay, in Pocasset.
Peter

[Mike Aitken]

Hi Peter,
Yes, we have been in Westport for the Past few years. Winter Storage in New Hampshire for this winter & we may moor in Portsmouth NH for 2011 if mooring (wait-listed) is available. We love Westport so we will not be too sad if we end up there again next season – we Love the islands & warm water.

If you are leaning towards the Doyle system; Another little item we sometimes miss….. Because Doyle’s are sewn to the sail they tend to be less aggravation under sail – when the sail is raised the “pack” tensions at bottom of the sail & you hardly notice it (except for the color of the Pack). The Mack style need to be dropped to the boom to be out of the way – we just let if fly in the wind and don’t bother till the wind pipes up.

I’d suspect that since Doyle moved into new Digs in Marblehead a couple years back, business for them has been good – they make a nice sail. A buddy of mine has used the loft in South Dartmouth with very good results for his 1938 Alden design Cutter. Being a Massachusetts Loft I’m sure all the Doyle lofts in Ma. are pretty good.

You will have to give thought to attending our “3rd” annual Dickerson gathering in New England for summer 2011. Last year (2009) was at Block Island in the fog. A couple weeks ago we got together in Bristol RI & next year’s will be at a yet to be decided location. So far we have 5 of us in New England who have made the effort to get together. 1 Plywood hard chine ketch, 3 glass 36’s ( 1 ketch, 2 sloops) & a 37 sloop. With some luck we could get 7-8 boats there next year!

Mike

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