Sail batten devices

[Rum_Pirate]

My now delaminating main sail (got it in that condition with boat) has Rutgerson® composite batten receptacle receptacles.

The battens are 1/2" diameter fibreglass rods

Batten Receptacles, Composite - Rutgerson Marin

Does anyone use this type?

Advantages/disadvantages ?

 

[RJJ]

My now delaminating main sail (got it in that condition with boat) has Rutgerson® composite batten receptacle receptacles.

The battens are 1/2" diameter fibreglass rods

Batten Receptacles, Composite - Rutgerson Marin

Does anyone use this type?

Advantages/disadvantages ?

I think those are the same as mine.

I quite like them. They are expensive and heavy....but if you already have them...and could probably recycle them into a new sail....

Mine use an imperial Allen key. Once I had worked that out, they go very nicely, and not too hard to dismount.

 

[KompetentKrew]

I believe these are the same as mine, although mine are white. I can't make out detail from the black pics on Rutgerson's site, so I include pics below.

These may be 25 years old, or the previous owner may have replaced or fitted them some time since the boat was originally commissioned.

They're all I've known, but I'm quite happy with them - they seem quite robust and they go up and down just fine.

Last pic because I need to go to a chandler and get the right webbing.

 

[fredrussell]

I’ve got very similar batten gear to OP’s, coupled with Rutgerson batten cars. Sail drops like a good’un. It’s good gear.

 

[Stemar]

I've been given a sail with cars like those in KK's pics. I've never had a fully battened sail before. How much tension should I be putting on the battens? Anything else I need to know?

 

[Chiara’s slave]

I've been given a sail with cars like those in KK's pics. I've never had a fully battened sail before. How much tension should I be putting on the battens? Anything else I need to know?

Batten tension depends on the sail, the battens and potentially wind, though I daresay most people don't bother with that last bit. What tensioning method does it have? If it’s just velcro straps, tension is probably ‘everything you can apply with the straps’. Look at the sail hoisted, make a judgement. Halyard tension makes a huge difference too. If it’s all a bit tight, you’ll find that it’s hard for the battens to flip when you tack. We often have to heave on the end of the boom in light airs. Loosen the mainsheet off, let it run out, then heave it in by hand. I assume this isn’t a J class or a MOD70 here of course.