Slipping vertical Battens

[jac]

I have Maxi Roach Main and Genny - both with vertical battens. For the 2 seasons we have had the boat the battens have been secure once we have got them in.This season I seem to be having problems.

The battens are held in place by a piece of sail material with Velcro on one side- about an inch wide and 15 inches long. Inside the pocket is a long piece of Velcro. The sail material goes under the batten and up the other side attaching to the Velcro in the pocket - making a U shape. There is tension on the batten from this but the batten is not restrained from moving fore and aft at all by anything other than the friction between it and the sail.

This season I have had 3 batten start to slide out of the pocket - the Velcro is still in place - the battens just seem to be sliding fore or aft and escaping over the end of the U.

Hopefully next weekend it will not be gusting 35 knots and I can unfurl the sails fully and tighten all the Velcro strips which might be a cause but not convinced. My other thoughts are to try and make the end of the battens a bit grippier - maybe a layer of self amalgamating tape but worried that will add to much bulk at the foot and cause furling issues. Only other thought is a couple of stitches through but that would make lowering sail quite difficult and not something to do at the drop of a hat.

Anyone else had issues with vertical battens like this and any better suggestions to fix it?

 

[MoodySabre]

How about a few stitches through the edge of the batten pocket so the pocket is only the exact same width as the batten. This should stop the batten from moving sideways and trying to escape.

 

[wilkinsonsails]

Make sure that the battens are fully home ,if not they have more wiggle room to escape .They should be at least inside of the edge of the sail .if the velcro hasnt failed and its still happening then a quick season fix would be to put a hand sewn stitch either side of the batten ,when its loaded ,pinching the pocket so its narrower at the entry point .
Cindy

 

[wilkinsonsails]

I must type faster

 

[knuterikt]

I have round battens on my head sail with the same type of batten pocket design.
The sailmaker fitted the batten with a flat "arrow tail" made up of some layers of sail cloth so it's fairly stiff.
The "arrow tail" has got the same width as the batten pocket at the wide end and tapers down to nothing, it has got a pocket in the middle for the batten.
This helps to keep the batten centered in the pocket.

Sorry no pictures.

 

[jac]

Thanks all.

Cindy - I suspect they may not be fully home as i'm not sure they are at least in side - they are inside but maybe a bit more brute force and ignorance to be tried first. Seems odd tht so many would be affected at the same time when previously were ok - common factor must be user error! Both sails were bent on when it was fairly windy and not been out in less than a 5-6 this year so not had the benefit of a nice calm day to really check them out. Fingers crossed for next weekend - otherwise will be a stitch or two in the pockets.

 

[wilkinsonsails]

One other thought .You have put the batten in the correct hole ? With some pocket construction sometimes there is a gap behind the pocket itself and it's possible to poke the batten up here instead of the bit with the Velcro tail on it .You would still have the Velcro meeting but not under the batten end.Its difficult to get them fully up on a calm day, so on a windy one it's very likely they are not all the way up.

 

[Regor21]

Check that you have inserted them correctly. I have the same sails and on mine there is an extra red sleeve at the bottom of the pocket on the Velcro flap that you should put the batten underneath and through. The design is such that it prevents the batten falling out once you have pushed the Velcro flap up inside the pocket.

 

[jac]

One other thought .You have put the batten in the correct hole ? With some pocket construction sometimes there is a gap behind the pocket itself and it's possible to poke the batten up here instead of the bit with the Velcro tail on it .You would still have the Velcro meeting but not under the batten end.Its difficult to get them fully up on a calm day, so on a windy one it's very likely they are not all the way up.

Good thought - i'll check on Friday evening. Not seen a gap behind the pocket but fairly certain that the Velcro was round the batten end. That said i'm doubting everything now!

Check that you have inserted them correctly. I have the same sails and on mine there is an extra red sleeve at the bottom of the pocket on the Velcro flap that you should put the batten underneath and through. The design is such that it prevents the batten falling out once you have pushed the Velcro flap up inside the pocket.

Interesting - not noticed a red sleeve but would have thought all maxi roach were similar so will have a look. This sleeve - is it actually on the tail itself or within the pocket?

 

[Regor21]

Our sails are 3 years old, so things may have changed, but I would think the batten pocket design will be similar. It's rather hard to explain, but the sleeve is sewn on to the sail side of the pocket and emerges onto the flap, so it's actually in both the pocket and the tail, it's about 4 inches long. When the velcro flap is closed the batten is tucked up safely in the sleeve and can't be seen and can't come out. The red material is a lightweight piece of sailcloth and you poke the batten under that when inserting the batten up the pocket.