Battens 101

[hectoretc]

I'm not sure if Batten questions go under sails, rigging or misc, but I'll put it here and if I'm wrong GL can just add it to his list of site adjustments to make

I won't need this for a few more months, but it'll give me time to put it on the list of gotta-do's before we hit the water.

As mentioned elsewhere, my DSII came sans-sails, and being "very" budget constrained at that time, I purchased an inexpensive used set (Jib & Main) on ebay (well undersized) thinking I wanted to hurry and get on the water. (best laid plans, but fortunately we didn't get onto the water this year... different story)

The sails arrived with one batten. I don't have it in my hand (I'm not exactly sure what I did with it), but I think it's about 20-24" long, 1/2-5/8" high, more or less rounded diamond shaped on a cross section, and probably plastic or fiberglass.

It looks like I need three all together. I've read several posts about them, and recall on those posts that generally they are different sizes, etc.

So finally my question - Other than length, is there anything magic about batons? Do they come in different rigidities, do I care about a about anything other than just having some on this junk set of sails? To that end... since I'm just learning to fall off the horse, do I even need them initially, or just sail saggy until I order some new sails this summer?

[Skippa]

Try your search using "Batten" and you will have a few more hits. Battens help create and maintain the curve and shape of the sail. They do come in many widths and thickness. They are not cheap ! In a pinch I have used oak trim molding but it is too thick and lacks the flex to make a good batten but it was a cheap fix for the last month of the season.
I am sure you can find something suitable before the ice melts.

[hectoretc]

Thanks Skippa
That would explain it. (spelling and so few hits)

Thanks also for the alternative suggestion. Maybe something like that will carry me though until I get my real sail. I can re-search now with the correct spelling and probably find much more about them.

Thanks again,

[GreenLake]

You might be able to sell the undersized sails and buy something that was made for the DS.

DS sails would have 4 battens, two short and two long ones.

In a pinch, you can indeed fabricate your own. I sailed for some years with an old sail which came with rather crudely made wooden battens. After I a while, I decided I didn't like the way they seemed to fit into the batten pockets (to thick and not wide enough).

I got some paint stir-sticks and glued them together (side by side and end to end) until I had something that was flat and wide enough for my taste (basically trying to fill the batten pockets). The wood is rather light and not as stiff as a hardwood.

I finished them with epoxy coat or polyurethane varnish - can't remember which, but probably the latter. Amazingly, they held up well and gave decent performance - it was an old sail anyway.

The reason for battens in the back of the sail is that the sail has positive roach - that is, there's an area behind the straight line from mast top to end of boom. That area cannot be supported by tension alone, hence the need for battens. If they are too bendy, they don't give enough support, if they are too stiff, they would interfere with the curve of the sail (as @Skippa wrote).

Battens can also be made from short strips of laminate - if you feel up to it, you could experiment, and if they turn out too soft or too stiff you can vary the layup. That's what I like about old sails - gives you more freedom to experiment, without the feeling that you've necessarily ruined an expensive new set to the point where you are not getting the performance you paid for.

For someone as hands-on as you appear to be, the DIY method and experimentation would be a reward in itself - and you'd learn a bit as well.

[jeadstx]

When I bought my boat about 5 years ago, I noticed my battens were missing. I ordered a set from D&R Marine before taking the boat out for it's first sail for me. I had looked at the sails breifly when I bought it making sure there was no major damage. I Didn't look close enough and when I got to the lake and got ready to put in my new set of battens, I found that the previous owner had sewen all the batten sleeves closed. That was fixed shortly after the first sail.

As far as sources for battens, D&R Marine has the correct ones for the Day Sailer. Sailrite http://search.sailrite.com/?freeText=ba ... lue~Slides sells batten material to cut to length. If you have a sailboat shop anywhere near you the should also have batten stock material, I know the sailboat shop near me does since I needed battens for another boat I have. West Marine should also have battens or batten stock material.

John