Full battens--sort of...

[Roger]

I'm the guy who chopped his mast to go under bridges. Works great!! However, one of the main sails i use was modified to a "fat-Top" with full battens that seem a bit unorthodox: They are longer than the batten pockets which means my sail ALWAYS has 'bag'that often takes time to 'pop' when coming-about or gybing.They also make it difficult to drop the main because they are not parallel to the boom. Especially the top batten that is more at 45*. I presume to hold the stiffened sail top aloft??? This makes them very hard to insert as i really have to force the last 4" into the velroed pocket... Question:I would like to amputate 1" off of the end of the top 2 battens to make things work better. Right or wrong? Maybe an inch isn't enough but one fraction at a time, eh?ALL help appreciated, Roger... over

 

[NewportVic]

Make sure the battens are full forward into the ..

pocket at the fitting at the mast. and then if it is obviously too long for the sail hacksaw whatever you need to off it ... if you are really shy try 1/2 inch at a time until the S disappears or at least pops real easy. I think I would be happy if it popped real easy as it is supporting the edge of the sail.I think that is sort of Chinese Junk rig like.Vic "Seven"

 

[Roger]

Bit-by-bit...

... that makes sense to me. I wondered about the battens being so much longer than the pockets...didn't seem right, but??? Thanks Vic, Roger