Lost the balls...

AngusMcDoon

AngusMcDoon

Well-Known Member
Joined
20 Oct 2004
Messages
9,067
Location
Up some Hebridean loch
Visit site
For an unknown reason a batten car end cap failed, and most of the balls fell out.
1000010643.jpg

It's the car for the top batten at an angle.

1000010644.jpg

What's the opinion on continuing using it like it is without the car until I get replacement balls (it will be best part of a week to South Uist). The main still seems to set ok without the car. A temporary alternative is move a car up from a lower batten.
 
Unfortunately all the intermediate cars are different. The only moving option I have is to move the bottom batten car & sail with a reef if that causes problems.

The wind is so light at the moment that it's all a bit of a theoretical problem anyway. Can't do much in a F1.
 
My tuppence worth?

Move the cars up, leaving the lower batten free, until spares arrive. Then continue with one reef-panel in.

There seems no point in risking further costly damage.

But then, you knew that....
 
I can't see that there is masses of compression there. How does it look when hoisted you should be able to see if it is pushing in. Alternatively , take out the top batten and put up with a minor flappage
 
oldbloke said:
I can't see that there is masses of compression there. How does it look when hoisted you should be able to see if it is pushing in. Alternatively , take out the top batten and put up with a minor flappage
Click to expand...
Interesting - I suppose you could slacken that top batten so there's NO compression - then tension might then keep the luff clear of the track. I reckon swapping the car with the bottom one and sailing with a reef is the better option - no risk at all of damaging the (expensive looking) sail.
 
I'm going to remove the batten tension then put a bit of milk bottle plastic around the luff held in place by the batten box bolts & see how it goes in light winds. If it looks like there's any rubbing I'll move a batten car, but it means taking them all off which is a kerfuffle.
 
Can you strip a spare ball race pulley to get some replacement balls. You may not have to replace the lot at this stage and many are of similar size alternatively using a bit of webbing sew a sail slug on the end in place of the car
 
Daydream believer said:
Can you strip a spare ball race pulley to get some replacement balls. You may not have to replace the lot at this stage and many are of similar size alternatively using a bit of webbing sew a sail slug on the end in place of the car
Click to expand...
I need a car end cap as well as the balls. They are on their way but the long weekend will delay their journey.

The mast track is external. Only a car fits, not a slug.
 
AngusMcDoon said:
Unfortunately all the intermediate cars are different. The only moving option I have is to move the bottom batten car & sail with a reef if that causes problems.

The wind is so light at the moment that it's all a bit of a theoretical problem anyway. Can't do much in a F1.
Click to expand...
That is what I was going to suggest - swap from the bottom and use the reef.
I guess if truly F1 to F2 you could probably sail with the bottom batten loose (less inward force than the top batten), and reef if gets above 10 kts TWS. By then you will be rocketing along even with R1 in.

Interested in knowing what the cause was as we use the same batten cars. Wonder if need to start carrying a spare?
 
dunedin said:
That is what I was going to suggest - swap from the bottom and use the reef.
I guess if truly F1 to F2 you could probably sail with the bottom batten loose (less inward force than the top batten), and reef if gets above 10 kts TWS. By then you will be rocketing along even with R1 in.

Interested in knowing what the cause was as we use the same batten cars. Wonder if need to start carrying a spare?
Click to expand...
I have 100 spare balls, there are 50 in each of our cars. But Angus has blown his car to bits. It’s usually a lower one that hapoens to, if you let the main come down too fast. The upper cars all land on the lower ones.
 
Chiara’s slave said:
I have 100 spare balls, there are 50 in each of our cars. But Angus has blown his car to bits. It’s usually a lower one that hapoens to, if you let the main come down too fast. The upper cars all land on the lower ones.
Click to expand...
Interesting. Just occasionally when single handed if we get a major squall off the hills I have turned into the wind and let the sail drop free fall. Not broken a car yet but sounds like a risk.
 
Cars all jiggled around which with only a single offcut of track on board was a major kerfuffle as those who have recirculating ball cars will know. Now the bottom batten temporarily has no car.

There's a little bit of droop to leeward but not much. I've taken the metal elbow connector out so it's only bolt rope brushing lightly on a smooth part of the mast. The sail isn't rubbing on the track. Being just above head height I can keep an eye on it while sailing which I can't for the top batten.

1000010671.jpg
 
dunedin said:
Interesting. Just occasionally when single handed if we get a major squall off the hills I have turned into the wind and let the sail drop free fall. Not broken a car yet but sounds like a risk.
Click to expand...
Some car designs have rubber bumpers fitted between them to allow the sail to be dropped without damage. I used to crew on a Farr 56 for race weeks in the Caribbean and the skipper used to insist on dropping the main like a guillotine. Those little rubber bumpers worked really hard but no damage
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top