STACK-PACKS & RIGGING
Stack Packs - Furling Systems - Rigging Design - Running Gear
This is an area I have a fair amount of experience in.
Having owned and operated marine canvas and sail shops on the East and West coasts of the USA, in Panama, in Guatemala and Nassau the amount of work I have done boggles the mind.
I have made stack packs and re rigged masts and installed furling systems 2 miles up rivers in El Salvador and tuned racing boats at the New York Yacht Club. Built carbon fiber booms in Seattle and wooden spars in Panama.
The Stack Pack performs two functions. The first is to help with the furling and reefing of the main, the second is to cover the main protecting it for the harmful UV rays.
This requires some engineering and knowledge of the reefing systems and how they are set up on each boat. Normally I would view the boat and check the sail and its running rigging prior to designing a system that works.
Covering the end of the boom and the reefing lines as well as the front of the boom and the winch systems is also important, thus a separate membrane is made to function as a cover for the head of the sail.
One project stands out. I was some where in the Bahamas windward island and had fabric flown in to fabricate a new stack pack and bimini and install a furling system for a 70 foot catamaran. All equipment was flown in and the work was completed in a week. I just happened to equipment on board.
Stack-Pack Design
This is the standard design for a stack pack.
The design works and I love them so much that I would have put them on all of my boats. Now, I wont sail without one.
However they serve two functions. One is to help you reef or furl, the other to stop the main from flapping all over the show, especially in a squall. Let's face it guys, we are all solo sailors. When the wind gets up we are in charge and we are responsible.
The easiest way of tackling the main in a blow is to be securely at the mast. From there you can control the hall-yards and the cleating whilst being in the center of the boats gravity without having to fight with twisted lines etc.
This only happens rarely, 99% for the time the stack pack functions as a cover for the main so that we don't have to put it on and off every time we go sailing. This goes for the reefing lines and the mast winches and cleating systems as well as the boom-end gear & shivs.
Every rig, boom, sail and boat is set up differently. If you have a production boat give it 2-3 years and you will have changed a few things.
A standard stack pack just will not do the job. You need a sailor who knows what he is doing or you could be in a world of hurt or you will have to have a cover made up to cover the stack pack or..... something.
Zippers Systems - Done Wrong
These are all hack jobs
The zipper slider lines need to be attached to the topping lift and then round the mast or to a shiv on the front of the pack.
The tension on the zipper is attained by using a UV bungee cord.
The front shivs for the zipper are attached to the mast or looped round the mast depending on what the rigging will allow.
The Zippers are always covered with a velcro flap to protect them from the UV.
I could go on but...
Pic 1
Pic 2
Pic 3
Pic 4
These designs may function as a bag as you can see in pic 2, the aft edge of the pack has nothing holding it in place and the battens have crept forward so that there is no shape to the bag. Pic 3 & 4 are similar versions of a membrane which helps to hold the sail in place when reefing but do nothing for protecting the sail. The Sunbrella fabric on its own is not sufficient to protect the sail from the harmful UV rays and requires an inner lining.
There are no slots for the reefing lines attachments thus when the sail is reefed the angle of attack on the clew of the main will not be at a 45 degree angle which will lead to incorrect shape and tearing.
Done right the first time
This design as bulky as it may look was actually designed correctly.
The sail is a loose footed main and the reefing line s have slots cut for them in the bottom of the bag.
The pad-eyes under er the boom position the reefing lines so that the pull on the reefing clews will be at a 45 degree angle, spreading the load on the clew and flattening the sail or enabling more bag for down wind performance.
MOLD - RAIN & UV DAMAGE
I always use a mesh lower panel.
This is to allow any moisture to drain. If you notice this design employs a track system with a space for the reefing lines to wrap round the boom.
This is a very neat installation and it spreads the load over the entire boom.
When reefing a note to the sailor is to raise the topping lift 8 inches whilst cracking the main sheeting off 6 inches.
This is so that you are pulling the boom and sail together not the tensioning the sail out to the end of the boom and creating undue pressure on the sail.
The Right Stuff
This is a well set and operational stack pack.
If a piece of equipment does not work on a boat, best get rid of it . When the time comes for it to work you might have a problem on your hands.
I am used to single handing even when I have crew on board. It is the responsibility of the captain or owner to make sure his equipment functions correctly.
I have seen torn mains and injuries caused by rigging failures.
The stack pack is a wonderful piece of equipment and I wont cruise without one but it needs to work right.
