Full batten sail or not?

[Guest]

I think there is a time to change my main sail (need repair and 17 years old). My sailing area most of the time is 15 to 20 knots wind (guest wind 25 knots) and I sailing single handed. what is the advantages for the full batten mainsail I know it cost more. My boat is 27' and mast high 32. Thank you for your help.

 

[dickh]

I have a fully battened mainsail on my Jaguar 27, several years old now, it was on the boat when I bought it 5 years ago. A fairly basic system with standard plastic slides in the mast groove. The only problem I had was that it was always very difficult to hoist and drop the sail even head to wind, you had to winch the last few feet up and pull it down almost all the way. I spoke to the local sailmaker, Parker & Kay and he suggested new 'black' sliders and 'loose' webbing on the intermediate slides. I was sceptical but decided to give it a try. The difference was impressive - you can now pull the sail up easily and only have to winch the last foot, and when released will usually drop down and only the last 4/5' have to be pulled down. All this when head to wind of course. Money well worth spent. If you go for proper ball slide type sliders it will be very expensive. Go the SBS and see the various systems and if possible see some in action on local boats.

dickh
I'd rather be sailing...

 

[gunnarsilins]

Pros and cons

After 3 seasons with a fully battened main (33 sqm) and mizzen (12 sqm) on my ketch I have these comments:

Negative:
The sails are heavier - more heavy to hoist
They cannot be hoisted unless you are exactly in the eye of wind.

Positive:
Much easier to trim
Prebend in battens gives the sail a proper form even in very weak wind.
Sail flogs less when tacking
Sail flogs less when motorsailing
Self stows nice with properly fitted lazy-jacks, but must be done straight to the wind.

I would go for fully battened sail again!

 

[oldsaltoz]

G’day Juniersailior,
If you are not into racing, why on earth would you be considering a fully battened main? They cost more to purchase, more to maintain and provide only marginal extra drive, and only then if trimmed correctly. Three fixed (short) battens in the roach area will give you the advantages listed by others at less cost, less weight and a longer sail life.
Ok I have said my 2 bob’s worth, I hope this helps.

Avagoodweekend Old Salt Oz……

 

[LORDNELSON]

I have been delighted with the fully battened mainsail I have used all this season - much more drive than from the old conventional sail but ... if you are sailing single handed there is the problem of keeping your boat head to wind when hoisting/dropping the sail; think hard about how you will do it!