is 25mm a strange size for sail battens?

C

chrisbitz

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Location
Bromley, Kent - Sail in Medway
www.freyacat.co.uk
my boat came with no sail battens, so I went to my local chandlers, and they only had 30 mm ones, so I had them cot to the right length, and brought them home, and used an electric sander to re profile them to the perfect size.

Sanding fibreglass is a HORRIBLE job, and my hands were itching for the next day!

And then I took the battens to the boat, tried them out, and everything good, although they were a little rough, so I thought I'll take them home and finish them with finer sandpaper.

And then, somehow they've magically disappeared off the face of the earth! I've turned everything upside down to find them and they've gone, but I can't face itchy hands for another day or two, re-profiling another set of battens...

My chandler looked in their book for 20-25mm battens, and they're not listed at all - can anyone suggest somewhere I can get 20-25mm battens? I want 2 x 600mm and 1 x 500mm, but I can't find anyone that lists anything like that or even cut to size battens?
 
Perhaps a windsurf shop or at least a different chandlery or a sailmaker
Some dinghy battens are now circular & i suspect this would suit you ok
Get one long one plus some spare ends & cut down
Alternatively get some ash & make some wooden ones
 
HiAndDri said:
YES. Tried ordering these a couple of months ago and they were, and still are, out of stock:(
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I just rang them (woolmer) up, and the guy was really friendly and helpful, but yes they are out of stock, although when I said I'm only after 2 60s and a 50, he said he'd go and look if he had any offcuts.

fingers crossed he calls back with good news! :-)
 
Credit where its due, I chatted to Woolmer, and they did have a couple of 5m lengths in stock, and sent one.

Unfortunately, the delivery guys crushed it and folded the roll into 4 x 1.25m pieces!

I called them and sent photos, and they sent a new 5m roll that day, and it arrived the next day without any quibble.
I'm very grateful for their friendly and helpful service.
 
chrisbitz said:
Wow! Thanks very much - £5 for 5m! Is that too good to be true?

I'm guessing vinyl's better than polyester?
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Polyester is of course the resin in the fibreglass as in common boat hull material.
Vinyester is a similar resin perhaps a bit more like epoxy as a better adhesive but hardened by a catalyst like polyester. I can't imagine any real difference polyester to vinylester in the end product of sail batten.
OP obviously has a problem with a poltegeist and the battens will turn up after he has got another set. good luck
olewill
 
chrisbitz said:
Credit where its due, I chatted to Woolmer, and they did have a couple of 5m lengths in stock, and sent one.

Unfortunately, the delivery guys crushed it and folded the roll into 4 x 1.25m pieces!

I called them and sent photos, and they sent a new 5m roll that day, and it arrived the next day without any quibble.
I'm very grateful for their friendly and helpful service.
Click to expand...

When you say roll , how stiff is this material? I certainly couldn't roll my battens to a postable size.
 
The long 4.5m battens for our stack-pack arrived rolled up and taped. No problem except be careful when you undo them - they revert to their full length with almost dangerous enthusiasm.
 
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