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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Mainsail Battens

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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/21/2008 : 22:54:04

This is going to sound dumb but how are the battens supposed to fit in the batten pockets? I noticed a couple of weeks ago that my mainsail was missing a batten so I ordered a new set for my original Catalina mainsail. When I took a quick look at the batten pocket it appeared to be sewn shut. Did I miss something in my quick look

Thanks in advance for your help!

GaryB
'89 SR/WK #5862
Kemah,TX

Association Member

GaryB
Andiamo
'89 SR/WK #5862
Kemah,TX

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 01/21/2008 : 23:52:30

On one side of the sail, near the outside edge, there should be a slit-like opening in the batten pocket. Slide the batten in at that point. Then push the batten in against the elastic so the end of the batten goes far enough in to clear the slit opening and come back under the opening to the edge of the sail.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3466 Posts

Response Posted - 01/22/2008 : 05:30:05

I have to look and see if same way on my sails - just never really checked this out.. On past boats, I always remember it same as described above, a slit above the sewn area with batten held in by an elastic band but if maneuvered upwards, it comes out of the slot above the sewn area.

I have not installed my new Quantum sails but taking the main out of the bag, I noticved they have a different more elaborate arrangement. First, they use narrow battens that appear to be of carbon fiber or something similar and the sail has what appears to be a heavily reinforced flap that velcros over the opening where the batten is inserted to then provide closure. At first glance, seemed like an overkill if you were to see this flap - it's about 5" long and pretty thick dacron reinforced matl to provide that closure. I did not check out all the batten pockets to see if that is the way all are held or perhaps only some of the pockets. Right now, those new sails when removed from the bag in my family room are giving off quite a few vapors - toxic ?

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 01/22/2008 : 09:26:50

Larry,
The flap goes inside the pocket, you have a short batten that is a push stick to get the flap inside, there is also probably a string that will hang out. When you need to take the batten out you reinsert the stick to get between the velcro and pull the string as you bring the flap and stick out together.
Quantum probably uses some glue on its seems.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3466 Posts

Response Posted - 01/22/2008 : 11:34:57

Hmmm!
I guess I better look over it in more detail--inserting te battens at home for starters !

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 01/22/2008 : 20:28:09

My loose-footed main from Waters Sails for our C-22 has the same batten pockets. If your new main has a large roach and the batten closest to your back-stay doesn't go all the way into the sail, you may need to trim the batten to keep it from catching on the back-stay. I have that problem on the C-22 because I have not yet trimmed the batten length. That string Frank referred to is important!

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3466 Posts

Response Posted - 01/22/2008 : 23:12:53

Thanks for the info ! I did not have a chance to look it over tonight. Hope to tomorrow or the next day.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3466 Posts

Response Posted - 01/26/2008 : 18:21:10

I checked out those batten pockets today (New sails still in my family room). The Quantum batten pockets are bit different than what was described. There is a big velcro flap that velcros flush to the end of the sail/batten opening. When you pull open that velcro flap, it exposes another velcro flap that is much narrower. That narrower flap starts on the other side of the sail , wraps around the batten opening after the batten is inserted and then velcros onto the exterior of the sail. The large flap then is folded flush over it velcroed to the narrow flap. Wow ! This seems like an overkill compared to my old sails where you just slide the batten in and then snug it down inside the batten pocket.

There is a string about 8" long on the outside of the batten pocket. It looks to me that you wrap that around the wedge end of these carbon fiber battens so that you can pull the batten out. The batten pocket itself is a very small snug pocket for the batten. The flaps cannot go in there if you tried and all the velcro attachments are for adhering on the exterior fo the flap.

I happen to go the Baltimore Boat Show earlier today (This was first year they had a sailboat area). There was a guy there discussing sail trim and trying to sell his CDs and book. But he appeared to be connected to Quantum Sails. I discussed the batten pockets with him and he indicated the flaps are velcroed on the outside of the sail.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 01/29/2008 : 22:29:16

I agree, sounds like overkill, probably expensive overkill. Better mouse traps sometimes amaze me. In 40 years of sailing I've never had a batten fall out of the traditional pocket, and I have occasionally sailed in less than pleasant conditions - like being sure everybody had ID in their pocket to identify the body.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3466 Posts

Response Posted - 01/30/2008 : 05:37:52

In all the years I have sailed, I think I may have lost one batten on a small sailboat eons ago. It was no big deal.

The Quantum battens are not all full sized battens as they convinced me to only get the top batten full sized for the area where we sail. As it turns out, all the battens are oversized compared to the Catalina stock sail battens. The lower battens are definitely not full sized but I would estimate are about double the length of the stock sail battens.

Looking over the sails, they certainly seem well constructed. I still have them in my family room. While i have been sailing this winter, I have not been yet inclined to install them. perhaps if we get a few really warm days during the next few weeks, i will get the urge, otherwise, I may wait till March. Right now, when you open up the bag and take the sail off...the resin fumes permeate the area.

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 01/30/2008 : 18:22:52

Incidentally, many of the vapors from synthetics are carcinogenic and hepatotoxic. Your liver isn't going to die overnight, but airing out in a closed house is probably not the best idea.

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3466 Posts

Response Posted - 01/30/2008 : 22:25:15

I have only had them out of the bag to do a quicky inspection and check out the batten pockets. I basically unrolled just the main sail and mostly inspected it in the folded position since I had no room to spread them out. Then put it back in the bag. Maybe I should leave them in the garage for now. I will probably get the itch to put them on soon even if middle of the winter. I am still sailing - hope to tomorrow afternoon.

I recently bought line for the new Genoa and to replace the old main sheet. Probably will install the new main sheet tomorrow....so in my way..it's the first step toward putting the new sails on !

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 01/31/2008 : 08:11:51

Larry, I am going to a 3:1 mainsheet in the spring. I want a faster response to trimming, (less rope to pull in).

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3466 Posts

Response Posted - 01/31/2008 : 11:50:46

I am trying to picture what I (we) have right now...I think it attaches to the end of the boom block and that makes 3 lines between the two blocks. Then from the block on the traveler, the 4th line is pulled to trim the sail. So...is that a 3 or 4:1 ?

Curious as to the cost and make of the blocks you are upgrading to...assume you are using new blocks.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 01/31/2008 : 14:16:04

Count the ropes on the free block, (upper fiddle). Four ropes, 4:1. I believe many boats were shipped with 3:1, am am not sure about our late model boats. Torlon bearing made 4:1 work on boats like ours by reducing friction at an affordable price.

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 01/31/2008 : 19:52:07

At the risk of un-hijacking this thread - I had my main sail repaired last winter. The repair loft reinforced both ends of each batten pocket and sewed them shut. I have partial battens, so flaking and folding onto the boom or into a sail bag is not an issue.

Frank - I look forward to seeing pictures of your new main sheet - it's one of my spring projects.

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Ericson33
Admiral

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USA
892 Posts

Response Posted - 01/31/2008 : 21:12:44

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Frank Hopper
 Count the ropes on the free block, (upper fiddle). Four ropes, 4:1. I believe many boats were shipped with 3:1, am am not sure about our late model boats. Torlon bearing made 4:1 work on boats like ours by reducing friction at an affordable price.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Frank, Did you just call that line a rope?

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3466 Posts

Response Posted - 01/31/2008 : 22:15:21

Mike...The Quantum Main has longer battens, though, only the top batten is full size. I am hoping the storing of the main on the boom with the cover is not going to be an issue.

Frank: I must have a 3:1 - I have only 3 lines.

I put the new main sheet on today. Sweet !

By the way....I received that Sears Scrubber/Polisher today. Earlier than I expected. I have high hopes for it - The Sears unit seems like a rugged power tool compared to the other polisher I returned. The Sears unit comes with a rectangular bucket with handle for carrying the unit or using it as a water bucket, etc. The polisher is a direct drive - It is gear driven which is even better because it gears down for the slower speed and I suspect at that speed it has increased torque. I tried it on the dinette table with some pressure and it keeps working - pad does not stop ! Also....supposedly this unit is...SUBMERSIBLE ! Why would you need a polisher submersible ? Hey...it's a scrubber as well...so...maybe it has a use for a boat in the water and you want to get down to the waterline or just below it ? Also has some nice scrubber attachments for working on tubs, shower stalls....probably scrubbing the non-skid area. I am charging the battery tonight. It is supposed to rain tomorrow..so I may not be able to give it a test run till Saturday. Then I will provide the review on that Buffer/Polisher Review Posting.

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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 01/31/2008 : 22:17:14

Larry,

What make and model is this Sears unit? IS it available at the stores or just online?

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3466 Posts

Response Posted - 01/31/2008 : 22:30:02

Gary....that's the problem with all these cordless scrubber/buffer/polishers - NONE are in the local stores !! At least not near me. The Sears unit is not stocked in any store near me and that means they cannot pull up the stock number to have it free shipped to the store. So, I ordered it...think I ordered it Sunday...and it arrived today !

To get to it is easy on-line. Just go to the Sears website...in the Search block...type in "Cordless Scrubber". That's how you get to it. Even quicker...click on this:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00911229000P?keyword=cordless+scrubber&sLevel=0

This is only a 4" pad polisher/buffer...so it would take a long time to use on the hull. If you want something for the hull...probably better off getting a larger 120VAC 10" buffer.

Also...West Marine has on-line a 7" cordless buffer that may also be satisfactory...check their website. Only negative is that one reviewer indicated it stops on the work surface with pressure applied to the unit. My thought is that 7" pad may be too large for a cordless to handle. ...I desired a small unit so I could work real close to the corners in the cockpit area. You may want to wait and see what I think after I try it out probably nlt Saturday.

Oh ! Geesh...really got off the mains sail battens discussion. Sorry bout that ! Okay no more on buffers here....I will continue review on the Polisher/Buffer posting located elsewhere -see posting topics to find it. I also have all the links for the other polishers/buffers reviewed on-line.

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