I have recently started to install the Battslide parts on my Hunter 37.5 mainsail. I noticed that after I removed the battens, that the three longer ones have become permantently twisted (corkscrewed). I have no idea how long they have been this way. They have an elongated diamond cross section if that matters. Anyone else ever notice this? Does it matter enough to replace them? Is there a way to straighten them?
Battslide project
- Thread starter patrick
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Re Battens
The twist may have been causes by the way the sail was flaked or rolled on the boom, tied and then and the took a set over time. If they put any unwanted load on the pockets it could lead to a chafe or fatigue problem. Depending on how bad they are you might go ahead and try sailing with them as-is (after you finish the Battslide installation). Then look and see if the sail itself shapes properly or distorts. They are pretty easy to replace if you need to. Just cut them with a hacksaw and sand the ends. If you do replace them try to match the flexibility with some of similar flex. If they have to be shipped request they be coiled for UPS shipping, (you dont want to pay for Truck freight). Try Sailrite.com for batten stock.
The twist may have been causes by the way the sail was flaked or rolled on the boom, tied and then and the took a set over time. If they put any unwanted load on the pockets it could lead to a chafe or fatigue problem. Depending on how bad they are you might go ahead and try sailing with them as-is (after you finish the Battslide installation). Then look and see if the sail itself shapes properly or distorts. They are pretty easy to replace if you need to. Just cut them with a hacksaw and sand the ends. If you do replace them try to match the flexibility with some of similar flex. If they have to be shipped request they be coiled for UPS shipping, (you dont want to pay for Truck freight). Try Sailrite.com for batten stock.
Just put 'em back in
and see if they work. If not, get new ones. Shipping advice makes sense as noted above, but how far can you possibly be from a real store? Nice project, Patrick. We love ours. Just make sure you're not under the boom the first time you drop your mainsail. It'll come down like a proverbial set of blinds! Make sure to use Sailkote on the cars for maintenance. Stu
and see if they work. If not, get new ones. Shipping advice makes sense as noted above, but how far can you possibly be from a real store? Nice project, Patrick. We love ours. Just make sure you're not under the boom the first time you drop your mainsail. It'll come down like a proverbial set of blinds! Make sure to use Sailkote on the cars for maintenance. Stu
Thanks Stu
There is more to this than I thought. I did not realize that there were intermediate parts or purchase them. I just got the batten end parts and plan to install them now and the intermediates later if I need them. Any thoughts on that plan? How much difference will the intermediates make? As to the battens, I would not have been surprised to find a little twist or bend to them but the longest one is almost a full 360 degree turn. I just cannot conceive of how that could even happen. Maybe it is not all that important but I can't help but wonder if anyone else has noticed this kind of batten twisting. I am not that far from civilization - just far enough. Half hour drives to either Bellingham or Vancouver BC. I have noticed that there are a lot of foreigners in BC though.
There is more to this than I thought. I did not realize that there were intermediate parts or purchase them. I just got the batten end parts and plan to install them now and the intermediates later if I need them. Any thoughts on that plan? How much difference will the intermediates make? As to the battens, I would not have been surprised to find a little twist or bend to them but the longest one is almost a full 360 degree turn. I just cannot conceive of how that could even happen. Maybe it is not all that important but I can't help but wonder if anyone else has noticed this kind of batten twisting. I am not that far from civilization - just far enough. Half hour drives to either Bellingham or Vancouver BC. I have noticed that there are a lot of foreigners in BC though.
Intermediates?
Patrick, when you say intermediates, do you mean the smaller connectors from the luff of the sail to the track between the connections at the luff end of the battens? If so, I can't see how your rig will work, since there are twice as many of those intermediates than there are the main four batten inboards. What did you do with the old sail slugs at those intermediate luff points? If your battens are that far twisted, just get new ones. They're only fiberglass and heat or cold or both could well have done that to them. I don't know how old they were, but they're relatively inexpensive, they come in 12 or more foot lengths and you can minimize the cost by measuring carefully and cutting them yourself. If they are that twisted, why put extra pressure on the sail pockets? Yeah, I get to Victoria quite often (from here - once a year by car to visit the in-laws on Vancouver Island) so I could be contributing to the foreigner influx! Stu
Patrick, when you say intermediates, do you mean the smaller connectors from the luff of the sail to the track between the connections at the luff end of the battens? If so, I can't see how your rig will work, since there are twice as many of those intermediates than there are the main four batten inboards. What did you do with the old sail slugs at those intermediate luff points? If your battens are that far twisted, just get new ones. They're only fiberglass and heat or cold or both could well have done that to them. I don't know how old they were, but they're relatively inexpensive, they come in 12 or more foot lengths and you can minimize the cost by measuring carefully and cutting them yourself. If they are that twisted, why put extra pressure on the sail pockets? Yeah, I get to Victoria quite often (from here - once a year by car to visit the in-laws on Vancouver Island) so I could be contributing to the foreigner influx! Stu
Stu, you are correct
the intermediates are the attachment points between battens just like you said. They look like the headboard fittings. See the link for pictures. These slides are attached by plastic shackles presently and should work ok except that they are going to be a fraction of an inch shorter than the batten fixtures are. I do not expect that will cause a problem. If it does, I will purchase and install them later.
the intermediates are the attachment points between battens just like you said. They look like the headboard fittings. See the link for pictures. These slides are attached by plastic shackles presently and should work ok except that they are going to be a fraction of an inch shorter than the batten fixtures are. I do not expect that will cause a problem. If it does, I will purchase and install them later.
Um mm
Patrick That might be a REAL PAIN doing it later, requiring taking the ball bearing cars off the track. Unless they got smart and made captive bearing blocks for the batten cars (which mine doesn't have -1986), then you're gonna have to take the darn things off with the separate car and hope you don't lose any bearings. Why not just do it right the first time? yeah, I know $$$. But it costs three time the right first time amount to fix it. Your boat, your choice. Stu
Patrick That might be a REAL PAIN doing it later, requiring taking the ball bearing cars off the track. Unless they got smart and made captive bearing blocks for the batten cars (which mine doesn't have -1986), then you're gonna have to take the darn things off with the separate car and hope you don't lose any bearings. Why not just do it right the first time? yeah, I know $$$. But it costs three time the right first time amount to fix it. Your boat, your choice. Stu
No ball bearings on mine
I am using the original nylon slides and adding the battslides which attach to those with a shackle. I guess you are thinking of their other system. I am not adding a new track. Thus I can easily add the intermediates later if they are needed. The only concern I have now is if the spacing difference of a quarter to three eights of an inch is going to matter. Using the intermediates would correct that.
I am using the original nylon slides and adding the battslides which attach to those with a shackle. I guess you are thinking of their other system. I am not adding a new track. Thus I can easily add the intermediates later if they are needed. The only concern I have now is if the spacing difference of a quarter to three eights of an inch is going to matter. Using the intermediates would correct that.
Battslides
Harken Battcars use ball bearings, Schaefer Battslides do not. It's confusing huh? Battslides are nice because they use the original slides and can be installed one component at a time as needed. Also they don't require a new track. I have them on my boat. Keep the slides lubed with Sailkote and they work very well.
Harken Battcars use ball bearings, Schaefer Battslides do not. It's confusing huh? Battslides are nice because they use the original slides and can be installed one component at a time as needed. Also they don't require a new track. I have them on my boat. Keep the slides lubed with Sailkote and they work very well.
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