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Preferred by Builders, Owners & Sailmakers

“101 Answers to your Toughest Boat Questions” Soundings: The Master’s Series, Ask the Soundings Experts Q: I’m thinking about installing lazy-jacks or a Dutchman system to aid in dousing my sails. Which is best? A: Both lazyjacks and the Dutchman are dependable, non-mechanical sail-control systems. Lazyjacks are known for their simplicity and are a great help in guiding the mainsail aloft, as well as containing it atop the boom when dropped.
But lazyjacks require the skipper to keep precisely head-to-wind and carefully monitor the process, since battens sometimes can snare the lazyjack lines and create problems as the sail comes down under its own weight or is hoisted. Although less expensive than a Dutchman, lazyjacks don’t attach to the sail. As a result, the sail drops into a pile along the boom. Battens provide some orderliness, but flaking is usually necessary before putting on the sail cover. Using a StackPack zippered sail cover can ease this process, since it remains on the boom and the sail drops into it like a pod. Lazyjacks also tend to put creases in the sails and cause chafe, shortening their life span. However, lazyjacks are better suited for older sails, which often are somewhat worn and softened. Installing lazyjacks also means it might be necessary to modify your sail cover to accommodate the lines. With a Dutchman system, the sail is doused and flaked at the same time. A series of grommets are mounted into the sail and are threaded with control lines that lead upward, similar to a Roman window shade. Most experts concur that a Dutchman, albeit more expensive, is both easier to use and gentler on sailcloth than lazyjacks. Keep in mind that the Dutchman should be installed by a sailmaker because only perfect alignment will assure proper operation. Also, a Dutchman, unlike lazyjacks, isn’t suitable for gaff-rigged boats.

Jon Wilson Founder and Editor-in-Chief WoodenBoat and Professional BoatBuilder magazines "At first, I wasn't particularly interested in the Dutchman, but Dave Simmons at Hood suggested I consider it. As soon as I saw the video, it was easy to see how useful the system could be, and I told him to go ahead. Now that it's adjusted, I'm quite impressed. "Under any circumstances, we can drop the main fast without worrying about it spilling onto the side deck or overboard, or obstructing the helmsperson's view. "I have a traditional boat and aesthetics play a big part, so I was a little uneasy at first about how all these fittings would appear on the sail, but, in fact, they are very inconspicuous. "I like the effect of its general visual transparency and the reduced windage, as compared with ordinary lazy jacks. It really is good system."	Jon Wilson

Bill Lee
Bill Lee Yachts

"I thought the Dutchman was just another marginal gimmick, but most of the recent Santa Cruz 70s and 52s have Dutchmans, and all the owners love them. One is on the delivery main of Mirage, an all-out racing 70; one is on Hotel California II, a 100-percent-cruising 70; and one is on Chardonnay II, a day-charter 70 for 49 passengers. The system is really functional. 'Fast is fun' even when stowing a main."

Bill "Fast Is Fun" Lee & Bob White

John Jacob,
President
CYOA Yacht Charters, U.S.V.I.

"Our boats are out every day in trade wind conditions. We've tried lazy jacks, and everything else. The Dutchman system is the only system that works. We've used it for four years now on our 25-boat fleet, from 35 feet to 65 feet, and all our new boats now come with it."

Tim Woodhouse
President
Hood Sailmakers

"The Dutchman system lives up to its claims. When a Dutchman-equipped sail is lowered, it stays on the boom, and is immediately ready for sail ties or the cover. All of our customers with Dutchman systems are very satisfied with their choice."

Bill Shore
President
Shore Sails

"Even though the Dutchman system costs twice what lazy jacks cost, it is so effective that our lofts strongly recommend it. We often see customers wanting to save money. They buy lazy jacks, get frustrated with them, and purchase a Dutchman system a year or two later. For most people, it's the best system out there."

Tom Whidden
President
North Sails

"Our experience is that customers simply prefer the Dutchman. It's now a standard option at North, and it's the only mainsail control system we offer. It's simple. There's no lost performance. It looks great. And it works."

Jeff Johnstone
J Boats

"The Dutchman system fits in perfectly with the J Boats' philosophy of keeping it simple and making sailing more fun. Most of the larger J Boat owner, from the 160 down to the 32, are sailing with the Dutchman and love it."

Gerard Douglas
Chief of Engineering
Catalina Yachts

"The Dutchman is simple, reliable, and, after years of refinement, it’s now a very well-proven system. I tested the Dutchman on my own Catalina, and have used every other system available. With a full-batten main, the Dutchman allows our customer to single-handedly drop and flake the main. We now offer the Dutchman as standard equipment on all our boats, from the Catalina 270 to the Catalina 470. Our customers are very happy with the system.”

Dan Spurr
Editor
Practical Sailer

"We'd been holding our for several years, for no good reason other than rebelling against the idea of holes in our sail. But when our local sailmaker, Aaron Jasper, whose conservative opinions we've come to respect, said he'd decided they were superior to lazy jacks, we made the move . . . [The] monofilament does not flap against or appear to chafe the sail [like lazy jacks and the system is] practically invisible . . .

"We heartily recommend the Dutchman Sail Flaking System."