Stack Pack or Lazy Cradle for Cruising Sailboats
Because many cruising sailors are too tired at the end of the day to wrestle with their sail covers, they leave their sails exposed to the sun’s harmful UV rays.
The Stack Pack or Lazy Cradle is more apt to be used because it is easier to use, and that will make your cruising mainsail last longer.
The cover holds a nice clean shape and looks as neat as it performs. The full-length battens that run parallel to the zipper hold the cover open when lowering the sail and give the cover a smooth shape when zipped closed. Made of woven acrylic material design just for sail covers. For bigger covers, a second ply of woven polyester sailcloth is added to the inside of the cover for strength.
Since the Stack Pack or Lazy Cradle is attached to the boom and not to the mainsail, you can remove the sail without having to remove the cover and disconnect the lazy jacks. Also, if you get a new main, you don’t have to get a new cover. The cover attaches to the boom two ways. With loose-footed mains, the cover has a bolt-rope on its center line that slides into the slot on the top of your boom. If your mainsail is not loose-footed, light aluminum bolt-rope tracks need to be installed on each side of the boom.
Why do you need a Stack Pack or Lazy Cradle for your Cruising Sailboat?
The drawing is a cross-sectional view showing the single bolt-rope and double bolt-rope attachment methods.
When sailing the cover can be left up or it can be rolled neatly alongside the boom. To roll up the cover, loosen the lazy jacks, pull them forward and then roll the cover from the batten down to the boom. Integral buckles hold the rolled-up cover next to the boom while sailing. Rolling up the cover will eliminate any noise and unsightliness of the cover flapping in the breeze.
The stack pack or lazy cradle has many well-thought-out details, such as integral sail ties that close with plastic snap buckles. Using the ties keeps the cruising sail small inside the cover. The Lazy Cradle also has reinforced slits for the reef lines to pass through the cover and around the boom.
