STACK PACK

[mike]

Has anyone used a `Stack Pack' system on their mainsail? My only concern was the extra windage when the sail is stowed together with the visual impact it would have on a traditional HC.

mike

[sv_bruadair]

Mike,

We've seen many boats with Stackpacks between Mexico and Panama and haven't heard of anyone complain about the extra windage. We are contemplating doing the same but not until we're done with our refit in Cartagena, Colombia later this summer.


Damon and David
s/v Bruadair
www.bruadair.us
1984 HC 33T #58

[mitchk]

We have a "Doyle Stack Pack" on Camino (HC33). We love it! You can see some partial pics of it in the Gallery. The "Stack Pack System" is more than just the sail cover which is attached to the main sail and the boom it consists of a strong track system, cars, lazy jacks, battens and a well designed zip up sail cover. If all of these are not installed to work together you will not be as happy with it. I can raise my main all the way up by hand and just take a few turns on the winch to tighen it and when dropping the main we turn into the wind release the halyard and it falls directly into the stack pack cover, it falls so freely I never even have to touch it. It keeps the main sail completely contained and I never even touch the main sail. When done I just zip it up. We have only had Camino for about a year and have been doing lots of work on here so we havent sailed her much, however I have had her out in 35K winds and had no problems with too much sail area from the cover. "Doyle" has a great system and there are others, just make sure that whichever one you go with is set up correctly when installed. Note: Our stack pack cover is actually a little oversized so that there would be plenty of room for the main to fall into it, eliminating the need to help it or stuff it before zipping. Also it will not fall as good without full ballens in the main and a good car system.

[mike]

[charles]

[mike]