Connecting Full length Batten to track ! your thoughts please

[irl2605]

Annoyed Now

Hi All
I have fairly recently upgraded my Beneteau 260 s to a 25.7. The same boat but with a few slight differences.
One of the changes is the addition of two full length Battens to the top of the main sail. My problem is two fold ,We find raising and lowering the main can be difficult and the Plastic sliders attaching the Full Battens keep breaking and damaging the mast.. The boat is just going into its 3rd season and we are trying to resolve this issue. I have e mailed Rutgerson, Elvestrom and the Beneteau Dealer ,Who says he is unaware of any problem but will ask Beneteau and I am awaiting their responses.. Please see PicsView attachment 38622View attachment 38621

Hi All.
Well just got reply from Dealer.... Who says that this is Beneteau`s Answer.. Anyone think this is reasonable?


I forwarded your email to Beneteau,

On the mast, they say "But it took a while to make all these
scratches; thus seem to be poor maintenance". As said before, we haven't had issues with the sliders and cannot
understand why this would happen, and if a slider failed why so much
damage occurred. Typically all running gear should be checked from
time to time. On the mast itself, the scratches are likely to be
cosmetic rather than structural so it shouldn't affect the strength of
the rig. As the anodising has been scratched, I would probably suggest
cleaning the area with mast cleaning material, then wax the area
thoroughly to protect the alloy, this should be done annually at
least.. The alternative is to touch in the scratches with a sliver
paint but this needs to be done carefully to avoid it looking a mess.

Am I right to feel Annoyed ???????

 

[sailorman]

Yes
see #08

 

[irl2605]

Yes
see #08

Thanks Sailorman.
The consensus seems to be that full length battens need a slider that can cope with compression loads. Ruthgarson themselves are recommending this slider as being specifically made for the batten housing in question.. I feel a strongly worded email coming on..

 

[Pye_End]

View attachment 38622View attachment 38621

I had pretty much the same system as this for years with very little problem. Perhaps broke a lug or 2 over 15 years from the total length of the sail (not necessarily on the fully battened fittings). With their lack of articulation I wonder if they are getting too twisted when being stacked? Perhaps the spacing between the slides is putting too much load on the individual slides, eg when gybing - although you might expect the non fully battened slides to go as well if this is the case?

Now have the Bainbridge Sailman system which are significantly meatier and would recommend these.

 

[Plevier]

I had a First 29 and got a FB main for it from Hyde Sails.
Their first recommendation was roller cars but for budget reasons I went with the Allslip long sliders (mentioned by Cindy). Big difference from ordinary slides. They were attached with webbing to the batten fittings. Batten compression was by heaving on a webbing strap, not a screw adjuster, limiting what you could apply.
Intermediates were ordinary HA slides, I think they were attached with the ordinary plastic shackles.
This arrangement was perfectly acceptable in use although I'm sure roller cars would have been nicer.
I would have thought this setup would be adequate for the OP's boat.
It sounds to me (no originality here) like too much batten compression is involved here too.

My next boat was a Sun Od 32, fractional rig, much bigger main. On this I had Rutgerson roller cars. I'm sure sliders would not have been adequate for this.

Here's the Allslip plain slide on the right with roller alternative

 

[irl2605]

Hi All
Well it looks as if this is going to run for a bit. Have several reply's saying this setup wont work. Including one from the actual sail supplier, and yet the supplier / Beneteau still maintain there is no problem. Well actually they aren't saying anything at the moment. In the meantime can anyone suggest a good way of sealing the aluminum mast where the anodising has been scratched off ? I'm thinking smooth silver hammerite, but open to suggestions.
Tks Iain

 

[sailorman]

Hi All
Well it looks as if this is going to run for a bit. Have several reply's saying this setup wont work. Including one from the actual sail supplier, and yet the supplier / Beneteau still maintain there is no problem. Well actually they aren't saying anything at the moment. In the meantime can anyone suggest a good way of sealing the aluminum mast where the anodising has been scratched off ? I'm thinking smooth silver hammerite, but open to suggestions.
Tks Iain

mast oil

 

[irl2605]

on Aluminum?... What magic is this you speak Oh Great and Wise Sailorman??

 

[sailorman]

http://www.mailspeedmarine.com/boat-cleaner-polish/*/blakes-mast-care.bhtml

 

[irl2605]

Consider it ordered .. Thank you much Sailorman.