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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

full batten main

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77Gypsy
Captain

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USA
356 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/12/2004 : 22:32:41

Hi everyone, long time no write. I'm planning a 2 week long sail in the Chesapeake next spring and have noticed my main is pretty worn out. I was looking at catalina direct and saw a NEW full-batten main with reef points and the whole nine yards for a good price. do these full-batten sails make life any easier? do any of you have them? any feedback would be great before i buy.

Steve
78 C25 SR/FK - Gypsy

Edited by - on

Dave Laux
Captain

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318 Posts

Response Posted - 09/13/2004 : 06:59:43

I have a full batten main and like it alot. Ours has much more roach than normal and thats good too. I would go that way without any hesitation. Dave

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Brooke Willson
Admiral

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USA
983 Posts

Response Posted - 09/13/2004 : 09:26:35

I bought a new Doyle main through catalinaowners.com. After much research, I got two full battens at the top and two partials at the bottom, and a loose foot. Given the varying winds of the Chesapeake, the "powerhead" gives stiffness and shape high up where the winds are stronger, but the partial battens allow me to ease the outhaul and create more fullness at the bottom for light winds. I've used it all summer, and like it a lot. The ability to significantly shape the sail has been enormously helpful.

You will no doubt get varying responses on this issue -- check the archives for the many threads discussing this very topic. It seems to me that West Coast sailors, who tend to sail in stronger breezes, favor full battens. The sailmakers on the Chesapeake tend to not like full battens.

Brooke

Edited by - Brooke Willson on 09/13/2004 09:27:59

Bruce Baker
Captain

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USA
402 Posts

Response Posted - 09/13/2004 : 09:51:42

I've got the fully-battened main from Catalina Direct (Ullman) and I love it. Very much better than the original equipment main.

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 09/13/2004 : 10:12:35

I have a friend with the Dolye Stack Pac integrated sailcover/lazyjack system. Wow is it slick.

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SteveG
1st Mate

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51 Posts

Response Posted - 09/13/2004 : 12:49:13

Right after I bought my boat(two years ago) I purchased a full-batten main sail from Cruising Direct and I love it. One of the benefits of the full battens is that the sail keeps the shape even when the wind is light. This means you don't have to adjust the sail shape as much.

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Uncas
Deckhand

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USA
12 Posts

Response Posted - 09/16/2004 : 17:23:48

I recieved a new main for my Cat-25 from North Sails in Annapolis last year. I requested a loose foot and full battens. They talked me out of the full battens. They asked if I was racing the boat... I told them no and they suggested that full battens will cause more ware on the sails than the partial battens shortening the life of the sail. I went with the partial battens. I agree with Brooke on the fact that the partials with the loose foot give me more freedom to mess with sail shape. The sail material that North used is pretty stiff so in light breeze I have to shape the sail do to the stiffness of the material....and as we all know light breezes are more of the rule than the exception on the Cheapeake Bay.

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tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 09/17/2004 : 13:44:22

i've had a loose footed full battened main in service now for five years and the only fault that I have with it is that the battens are all of the same cord. The batten at the boom is about the right thickness to control the size of the sail at that point but it is the same size as the battens throughout. Not so good. The top batten offers no sail shape since it's stiff as a board. It seems to me that the battens should be of various thicknesses so that they reflect what each draft of sail requires. I tried shaping them but though it might be possible to do for some it is impossible for me. I have a problem removing the cap from my arthritis medication bottle.

.

val on Calista # 3936
Patchogue, N.Y.

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Dave Laux
Captain

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318 Posts

Response Posted - 09/17/2004 : 17:12:13

Our battens are all diferent sizes and clearly marked as to position and orientation. Thats what you get from a good sailmaker. I just worked with a production FB main from Doyle, all battens the same, none corect for the position, sail generally irritating.. Dave

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.