I need help finding batten material for this project...

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widgeon

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Jun 3, 2004
13
Oday Widgeon Ipswich, MA
Hello,

During the winters months I enjoy skate sailing on frozen lake ice. This year I am building an ice wing cabriolet. To build this sail I need three battens that can bend into a U-shape while in use and then lie flat again for storage. The battens need to be bent to a diameter of approximately 18"-24".

The middle batten is specified to be made of polycarbonate with dimensions of 45" x 1 1/4" x 1mm thick. The top and bottom battens are specified to be glass fiber reinforced (GRP) with dimensions of 45" x 1 1/4" by .118" thick (3mm).

Sailrite told me that their battens cannot be bent tighter than a four foot diameter without breaking.

Can anyone help me with sourcing this material? I could purchase a sheet of polycarbonate from an industrial supplier such as McMaster-Carr and cut strips to size, however, the designer believes that these strips will not give the wing as much rigidity as a hard bent glass fiber batten.

Thank you, Steven.
 
Rascal18590

Rascal18590

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Mar 3, 2007
29
Oday 23 Atwood Lake Ohio
Batton Stock

Hey buddy !!!! I had to replace a couple of Battons when I got my O'Day 23. The only place I could find the stuff was through West Marine. You have to order it ......... and it is called Batton Stock. It comes in long sections. Hope this helps. Bob Burns=Rascal
 
Capt. Kermie

Capt. Kermie

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Jun 8, 2004
550
Macgregor 26M Delta, B.C. Canada 26M not X
When I needed to replace a lost batten I got it made from NorthSails, it was only $5 so I got two, one as a spare. I would think that all sailmakers would carry batton material.
 
Paul Akers

Paul Akers

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Dec 3, 2003
2,101
Hunter Legend 37 Portsmouth, RI
Check with a SailMaker!

If you have a good sailmaker, he should be able to tell you where to get it at a good price. Give him a try. Otherwise, check at WM. That is where I got some to make replacement battens once.
 
dancing bear

dancing bear

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Jun 3, 2004
309
Prindle 18, beach catamaran Chicago (North Edgebrook), IL
Re: Check with a SailMaker!

Vinyl siding is really flexible when cut into strips. If a strip of it is too flimsy, use wider strips or epoxy a couple of strips together.
 
caguy

caguy

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Sep 22, 2006
4,004
Catalina, Luger C-27, Adventure 30 Marina del Rey
I believe Ross had some carbon fiber material he was trying to give away. I don't recall the demensions, it was about 2 weeks ago.
Frank
 
Bob V

Bob V

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Mar 13, 2008
235
Catalina 42mkII Lagoon Point
Consider something safer and more practical

I never thought I would use that phrase to descibe what I sail in the winter. When the next person tells me that my wing is insane, I'm going to show them a photo of yours. Be carefull out there Dude.

http://www.kitewing.com/
 
walt

walt

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Jun 1, 2007
3,538
Macgregor 26S Hobie TI Ridgway Colorado
windsurfing battens?

Someone who windsurfs regularly likely has some worn out sails with salvagable battens.

Safety is usually the last thing ice sailers think about (and a complete lack of safety in designs is very much tolerated - ie, the most popular ice boat design will do over 60 mph, has poor visbility on where you are going and if you drop a front runner in a crack the boat stops immediately - and they do not have any sort of seat belts).

Ive gone in the water twice ice boating so having some sort of plan if this happens is probably worth thinking about. Looks like the cabriolet version would be safest for this. I wonder if anyone has gone in the water with one of the enclosed versions?
 
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