New sails: 75% or fully battened?

[PJewkes]

I am buying new sails. My mast section does not support fully battened main as support surface on mast either side slider slot too narrow (7mm each side). I have been advised to go for 75% battens, also easier to de-power than fully battened I am told. Any advice on this, how do 75% battened sails perform compared to traditional or fully battened? Cost not the problem, just short of knowledge. Thanks.

 

[richardabeattie]

"Cost not the problem" is not a permitted term under the forum protocols!

 

[aidancoughlan]

I replaced my Main a couple of seasons ago - I was thinking of Fully Battened but with a lot of other expense at the time was put off by the cost of the cars etc. required to help it run freely in the mast. Several sailmakers suggested 3/4 battens - and several suggest one or two full battens at the top (depending on the size of the boat) to help hold the the roach out - without track cars.

Generally, they were suggesting that on a boat of my size (27ft), fully battened was unnecessary. The only problem I have noticed is a bit of "batten poke" on the front end of the battens in light airs. I suspect too that it would drop easier if running on cars.

On your boat i'd reckon it would be a pity to not have fully battened if it is possible - have you tried several sailmakers - there are several alternative car manufacturers available - try several sailmakers to make sure it is not possible.?

 

[alec]

I can understand your problem. You have a big boat which means you must have the right cars etc which would probably mean a new mast if you wanted to go fully battened.

I am fully battened but have a much smaller boat and can get away with sliders - just.

The fully battened sail has made a HUGE difference to my sailing pleasure and I am not a racer. I would recommend it every time to anybody wishing to go this way. The cost is about 25% more than a usual main. The pockets are not easy to make, or get right. Then there is the cost of the battens. The sail will however keep it's shape and effectiveness long after the others are blown out.

I believe fully battened were banned in many racing classes but I notice that you often see the top two fully battened now.

I would go as fully battened as I could get but it may worth be getting more info from other sailmakers as suggested or any racing boys who have gone down this route.

 

[theotter]

I have a new short battened main to replace my fully battened one....and I bitterly regret going 'cheap' and not opting for the full batten. I weighed up the cost pros and cons versus a 'stack pack' instead. I now realise the stack pack would be much more user friendly if I had had a full battened main. However, my main regret is that if one is obligued to motor and have the main up, the short batten main tends to flog whereas a fully battened main takes on a shape an is far more stable. So it would be fully or as much batten for me next time.

 

[simonfraser]

i had fully battened on plastic sliders, up no prob, down, i used a down haul - extra halyard to pull th sail down, worked fine. 8m catamaran.

 

[Colvic Watson]

Simon. how did your downhaul work? We have an 8m cat and the main needs a bit of help sometimes coming down. We attached a downhaul to the top, but all it did was turn over the top of the sail. Any suggestions?

 

[simonfraser]

tie it on a bit lower so it pulls the head board down, perhaps use a second lower hole on the head board if you have one or from the slider just below the head board?

 

[Colvic Watson]

No second hole but we'll have a go on the first car maybe. Thanks Simon.

 

[aluijten]

There is a system available that puts a plastic rail in your existing track. The runners are then made of stainless steel (look like a small rod) that slides up and down in the rail. This apparently is a very good system to retro-fit a full batten system to a mast like yours.
I did forget the name of the manufacturer /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Fully battened is very nice indeed I can tell.

Arno

 

[davidwf]

The best solution is to use Harken Batt cars with a track installed onto your mast, expensive though. see bat car

I have had a fully battened main running on Rutgerson cars which were really good, current sail has two full battens at top but no cars it just uses slugs and it's no where near as good.

I would always go for fully battened with proper cars personally.

 

[michael_w]

I think Strong Track is the system your are thinking of. Never used it, but heard very good reports on easy fitting and ease of use.

 

[aluijten]

Thanks, that is exactly what I meant.
I'm only curious how it will cope with sand and dust flying around in due course.

 

[charles_reed]

I never had to

convert mast section to fit fully battened main.

First time round I used Bainbridge Oilite slides on Rutgerson batten ends - worked a treat, take down on any point of sail, no jams. The sail was a 28.7m2 (slightly smaller than yours).

Since than I've gone to a larger main (33.8m2) with a far more aggressive roach and used Bainbridge Sailman 4000. Because there are 5 not 4 battens in the height, this really needs to be taken down and lifted head-to-wind.

If you have the Z-Spars section, you're one size larger than mine and should have no problem with full battening.

I certainly wouldn't settle for 75% battens.

Talk to Jeremy Robinson of Sobstad on 023 80 456205, he did both mains for me and actually knows what he's talking about as he sails competitively.

 

[PJewkes]

Thank you all for responding to my question. I have decided to go fully battened. Most people I have spoken to and your replies all lean to fully battened. My boat is 39ft long with an Isomat NG-60 mast. The batten system proposed by 2 reputable sail makers is the Sailman 4000 system with Series 35 batten boxes and in-mast sliders. Anyone ever fitted this and had problems be pleased to hear about it. Thanks again.

 

[thalassa]

[ QUOTE ]
There is a system available that puts a plastic rail in your existing track. The runners are then made of stainless steel (look like a small rod) that slides up and down in the rail. This apparently is a very good system to retro-fit a full batten system to a mast like yours.
I did forget the name of the manufacturer


[/ QUOTE ]

A Dutch friend of mine has this and is mighty pleased with it. And it's called Sail Track .