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Lazy jack - when did it come up?

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by longroute, Oct 16, 2016.

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  1. longroute, Oct 16, 2016
    #1
    longroute

    longroute New Member

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    May 31, 2013
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    Teulada (Sardinia-Italy)
    I know that lazy jack was used in Chinese junks since long ago, but when it appeared for the first time in leisure sailing boats in the States? I'm reading a sailing narrative book of 1969 and it talks about lazy jack being used in a small sloop. Is it possible? I'm sure that here in Europe it appeared much later.

    Thanks for the info,
    D.
  2. bobhorn, Oct 16, 2016
    #2
    bobhorn

    bobhorn Member

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    Lazy jacks are used on sailboats to keep the main sail on top of the boom when being lowered.
  3. Fishtigua, Oct 16, 2016
    #3
    Fishtigua

    Fishtigua Senior Member

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    Lazy jacks have been used on dragger and dredging oyster fishing boats since the mid-1800s in England, France and the US. The large mainsa'ls drove the boats with a minimum of crew.
    smack.jpg
  4. longroute, Oct 18, 2016
    #4
    longroute

    longroute New Member

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    Thank you for the info. I live in Italy and I'm sure lazy jacks could not be found here in leisure boats in 1969. Probably here it arrived much later than in England and France where there was a long time tradition of it.