New sail

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richardh10

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I am replacing the main on my 38ft cruising monohull.i have slab reefing and at the moment I have 4 short battens in it. What would be the advantages or disadvantages of changing to full length battens? Would weight be an issue, as I'm not getting any younger and I raise it by hand.

Thanks
 
The main advantage of full battens is better control over shape and reduction in potential flogging. T o get best advantage you need a good batten car system which will also make hoisting and dropping easier. You might consider the alternative to just batten cars which is Tides Marine track system shaft-seals.co.uk/product/sail-track-system/ which is becoming increasingly popular. I have it fitted and and it really takes most of the effort out of hoisting the main and instant dropping into the stack pack. Mine was supplied with a new sail by Kemps. Easy to fit - I did mine myself. One of the best bits of kit I have bought.

Suggest you speak to sailmakers about the options.
 
My mainsail is now well over 25 years old, made in Vectran by Kemps. It remains in excellent shape with short battens. It is a heavy cloth but is not too difficult to hoist. I winch the last metre or so. It drops into the stack pack reasonably well although I have to pull down the last metre or so.
 
Unfortunately my main has now got so many patches that it's embarrassing to raise it in close quarters to anyone else!

I have to add that I've not had any problems with the short battens but just interested in other opinions
 
Hi Richard
RE What would be the advantages or disadvantages of changing to full length battens
This will depend on how you sail and how much you want to spend.

Just adding full length batons will make the sail heavier but also make the leach pockets snag on the way up.
Making it more difficult to hoist.
To fix this you will need to spend money and add proper cars and maybe track to the mast.
If you already have this low friction system fitted you are ahead of the game.

In my view for normal cruising or daysailing (trouble free and inexpensive) half batons will do the job.
The price of the batons, leach pockets, cars and tracks can add up.
If money is not a consideration , go for the whole package.

PS , Do you have an on mast halyard winch or is it led back to the cockpit?
It makes a big difference in hoisting.

gary
 
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I’ve replaced my old short batten sail with a new sails with full-length battens. It hoists better and drops better than the old one.

In hoisting I don’t find the increased weight significant - probably balanced by the reduced friction from the wheeled cars. And I’m finding that the long batten ends don’t catch any more than the old short ones. Maybe because the sail flogs less?
 
I have sailed with both short and long. Although full-length is quieter and adjustable, the biggest difference for me was its ability to drop neatly into lazyjacks and self-stow. One disadvantage can be that it adds chafe points where the battens touch the shrouds, and some reinforcement may be needed at these spots.
 
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