Bright idea for lee cloth battens

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firstascent2002

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Hi guys,

Just re sorting my lee cloths. Because the direction of pull from the end of the lee cloth to the fixation point is almost vertical they tend to fold in on themselves...

I thought I would put some kind of batten in the top edge to prevent this.

I can get a 30 mm sail batten on e bay of 2 m long for about £15 delivered. I'd actually like to put two battens in so this got me to think....is there anything cheaper I could use...

My ideas so far are plastic waterpipe (but this would be something you'd be likly to feel when the clothes were tucked away or that white plastic electrical conduit stuff.....any other thoughts?

J
 
You can buy 'contract batten' a lot cheaper.
Try sailcloth .co .uk or pointnorth.co.uk or perhaps a local cruiser sailmaker.
 
Ex boot-sale kiddies fibreglass fishing rod (sans rings and grip, of course). You may also need to cut-off the top 12" or so, as that part is too flexible.
I made a couple of Dhan buoys (fishing variety) from these last year - you could also make a VHF antenna from one - very versatile material, fishing rods.
 
Here is an interesting bit, from top sailor Willie Kerr:

"Our lee cloths are almost full length and supported by what I can only describe as a Laser boom ie: a length of two inch diameter aluminium tube which runs through a sleeve at the edge. The tube drops into crutches mounted on the bulkhead at each end of the bunk, about eighteen inches above the bottom of the bunk and the cloth goes under the bottom of the mattress and is securely fixed to the boards underneath. We have deliberately made the cloth a bit tight so that the sleeper is cradled like a hammock. I ascribe Allen's success in the 1979 Fastnet partly to the fact that his crew were able to rest securely.."
 
Get the ends of the lee cloth trimmed at an angle.This makes the pulling cord tension the top out fore and aft ,or consider moving the tension eyes.
Most battens wont really stop a heavy body fall against them .Fibreglass splinters are not very pleasant either.
cindy
 
Source for battens

You might consider the fibreglass flexible batten that is used for fishing wiring through cavities etc. Called a snake I feel sure it will be available from tool stores. good luck olewill
 
doug748 said:
Here is an interesting bit, from top sailor Willie Kerr:

"Our lee cloths are almost full length and supported by what I can only describe as a Laser boom ie: a length of two inch diameter aluminium tube which runs through a sleeve at the edge. The tube drops into crutches mounted on the bulkhead at each end of the bunk, about eighteen inches above the bottom of the bunk and the cloth goes under the bottom of the mattress and is securely fixed to the boards underneath. We have deliberately made the cloth a bit tight so that the sleeper is cradled like a hammock. I ascribe Allen's success in the 1979 Fastnet partly to the fact that his crew were able to rest securely.."
Click to expand...

That's how we did it when we built our boat. Works beautifully - strong, comfortable and totally secure. However, you do need a strong bulkhead at both ends. Ours run from a main bulkhead to a half bulkhead between the saloon and galley to port and chart table to starboard. It helps that the sea berths have trotter boxes, so the poles don't have to run the full length of the berth.

The poles are stowed in the forepeak when not needed and are easily slid into their pockets as necessary. The cloths themselves fold back under the bunk cushions.

I have often sailed in boats with lee cloths secured to the deckhead but don't like that system at all. One important issue, apart from the inefficiency, is the difficulty of getting out in a hurry. With the poles in brackets, you just flip them upwards out of the bracket and you are out. The weight of the sleeper makes it impossible for this to happen in normal use, but if you need to get out quick, that's what you need. If you are off to the heads or otherwise plan to return, or if you are hot bunking, the lee cloth simply hangs down the side of the berth, pole in place, until the next body is ready to climb back in. No fiddling around, trying to get the thing tied up again and at the right tension.

When the lovely old yawl Nicolette went to the bottom after being rammed by a French trawler, three people were found drowned in their bunks. In that case it was probably the sheet sleeping bags that prevented a quick escape, but I fear conventionally secured lee cloths might have the same drawback. Worst case scenario, but there are plenty of other situations in which a speedy exit is vital, especially for the skipper.
 
Cindy knows.

I have made and used the Willie Kerr solid alloy type too but it can make you feel wedged under it too ( but good to lean against for putting on yer trews)
 
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