Doyle Sailmakers Cradle Cover User manual

Doyle Sailmakers Inc. (800) 94-DOYLE www.doylesails.com
D OYLE Cradle Cover
M AN AL

Doyle Sailmakers Inc. (800) 94-DOYLE www.doylesails.com

Doyle Sailmakers Inc. (800) 94-DOYLE www.doylesails.com
The Doyle Cradle Cover
pon receiving your new Doyle Cradle Cover and before starting actual installation, we
recommend laying out your Cradle Cover on a hard surface in a secure location, such as you
basement or garage, to familiarize yourself with your new Cradle Cover and its components.
Please check for the following items, included in your Cradle Cover system:
Custom Cradle Cover Lite with attached coiled lazyjacks
 (2) long Cradle Cover cover battens
Small bag containing (4) small stainless steel pad eye, (2) Harken Blocks, (2) Horn
Cleats, and fasteners
In addition to the supplied components, you will also need:
Bosun’s chair
Electric drill (preferably cordless)
drill bit
Roll of vinyl rigging tape
Phillips screwdriver for self tapping screws
Felt tip marker for pad eye location
Steps for Installing the Cradle Cover
1. nroll your Cradle Cover Lite system on the deck.
2. Starting at the front of the boom, slide the foot of the cover into the boom.
3. Tie-off the cover at the tack and clew, with the front of the cover roughly in line with
the mast
4. Install sail onto the mast.
5. Install (2) long Cradle Cover cover battens, making sure to install forward lazy jack
lines through the grommet so the loop is around the batten.
6. Flake sail and zip Cradle Cover cover closed.
7. Install horn cleats on side of mast, roughly in the vicinity of the gooseneck, but out of
the way of other halyards.
8. Secure forward section of LazyJacks to cleat before putting going aloft, to ensure that
they do not become skied.
9. Install upper pad eyes with blocks on each side of mast, fastened at a height of 75% up
from the boom. Note: Do not install on back of mast.
10. Run upper lazy jacks through blocks and down to cleat. Adjust snug so rings on lazy
jacks are even on both sides, and tie them off at cleat. Note: Lazy jacks should not
come in contact with rigging, shrouds, or any equipment.
11. Install lower pad eyes on the side of the mast, fastened at a height 2 to 3 feet above
the Cradle Cover (see diagram).

Doyle Sailmakers Inc. (800) 94-DOYLE www.doylesails.com
12. Forward Lazy Jacks can be either tied off to the pad eyes, or run down to the cleat at
the gooseneck, depending on how frequently you plan on lowering the Cradle Cover.
Note: Lazy jacks should not come in contact with rigging, shrouds, or any equipment.
13. Cradle Cover lazy jacks can be fine-tuned by the forward Lazy Jack line. Adjust the lazy
jacks so cover is relatively straight along the top.
14. At this point, a trial run should be performed. The best conditions are on a calm day or
when head to wind. Make adjustments so that when sail is at full hoist, lazy jacks
should be relaxed but not overly slack.
15. When comfortable with the adjustments, lower sail, zip cover closed, bring halyard back
and hook to snap hook on cover. Finish installation by zipping on the mast cover.
Final Adjustments
•With the cover zipped, stand back and examine the set of the cover. The top edge should
run fairly straight from the mast to the aft end of the cover.
•Adjust the forward lazy jack lines to support this end. The cover should be upright with
these lines just taking a load.
•With the line attached to the webbing loop at the aft end, use a rolling hitch around the
top lift and tie off to the other webbing loop. This line should only be tight enough to
keep the aft end of the cover from sagging.
•A final adjustment to the lazy jacks at the tack may be necessary to remove any sag or
bow remaining in the top edge of the cover.
Points to emember
•The Cradle Cover is a simple, efficient sail handling system, but it is not automatic. A few
moments spent tweaking the sail into the cover will insure smooth operation of the
zipper and a neat appearance of the cover.
•If your boat is not equipped with a rigid boom vang, be sure to tighten your topping lift
to relieve load on the lazy jacks. Lazy jacks are not designed to withstand the dynamic
load of a dropping boom.
•Lazy jacks must be cleated securely in their cleats at the tack. If the lazy jacks come
loose while the sail is being lowered, the sail will tend to fall outside of the cover.
•The forward mast cover is fitted with separating zippers that zip to the Cradle Cover on
each side. If your mast has winches or rigging that interferes with the fit of the mast
cover, carefully mark the cover at these points and return the mast cover portion to your
Doyle loft for modification.

Doyle Sailmakers Inc. (800) 94-DOYLE www.doylesails.com
Cradle Cover Tips
Head to wind: To experience the smoothest hoisting and lowering of the mainsail, it is
always best to be directly head to wind whenever possible.
Flaking the luff: While lowering the sail, a guiding hand at the mast goes a long way in
producing the neatest and most compact drop.
Helping the zipper: After the sail is completely in the cover, if the top of the cover is
reachable, the best technique is to hold the cover battens together as you zip the cover
closed. This takes the load off the zipper slider and will help the life of the zipper teeth.
Cleanliness: Keep the cover free from dirt will help to maintain smooth operation. Before
removing your Cradle Cover, be sure your deck is clean and that your mast and boom have
been wiped clean in the areas that will come in contact with the cover.
Maintenance: A thorough cleaning and yearly maintenance inspection of your Cradle Cover
is advisable. When removing the Cradle Cover, it is easiest to leave the lazy jacks and
battens with the boat.