Jammed Furling Mainsail with Vertical Battens

[MED]

Hi I own a Oceanis 40 Z Spar furling mast Everstrom furling main with vertical battens. The boat is new in Nov 2011. Since I've used the boat the furling system has been nothing more than a nightmare on water. What I cannot understand is that the manufacture of the mast states on their web page DO NOT USE VERTICAL BATTENS yet Beneteau continue to supply their boats with furling sails with vertical battens. On my sail I've tried everything to overcome the problem with the sail jamming in the mast. I did a dimension check and found the following. The width of the slot is 12.54mm the thickness of the sail at the batten entry point into the batten pocket is 13.54mm, that's with the following thickness plies, batten, sail, batten pocket, Velcro holding tabs batten end caps (all as supplied with the boat) Some times the batten goes into into the furling compartment with the batten parallel to the slot then on other occasions the batten enters through the slot at an angle. I've lost battens with the batten pocket being torn at the batten entry point on the pocket and now I'm in a situation where the sail is jammed at the batten nearest the clew. The only way or means provided to unjam the sail is with using the companionway winches. On this jam I was forced to use the winches and in doing so the jammed partly furled sail actually jumped out of the mast furling compartment it is not able to be pushed back into the furling compartment. As a result of the sail jumping out of the mast the slot is forced open from the original 12.54 mm to about 26mm and is holding the popped out part of the sail like a vice grip. I now have to take the mast down and see if it can be repaired. Like I said its a nightmare. Do any of the readers have similar tales to tell.

 

[Grouperhound]

My OC 45 has the pockets for the battens but they were not present when purchased. I've read so many different things on having them versus not, I'm tormented just thinking about it.

Bottom line is I don't seem bothered without them. In fact I wasn't even aware they were not there until my second season. I say just ditch them and fagetta bout it. Why complicate your sailing day by messing with a fussy furling event. The only thing I want on my mind when it comes to furling my Main in is the bottle of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale I'm going to open when back at the dock.

 

[Jackdaw]

My OC 45 has the pockets for the battens but they were not present when purchased. I've read so many different things on having them versus not, I'm tormented just thinking about it.

Bottom line is I don't seem bothered without them. In fact I wasn't even aware they were not there until my second season. I say just ditch them and fagetta bout it. Why complicate your sailing day by messing with a fussy furling event. The only thing I want on my mind when it comes to furling my Main in is the bottle of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale I'm going to open when back at the dock.

If a mainsail is cut with positive roach (like 99.9% of mainsails designed to be used with battens are), using it without battens will generally result in constant flutter on the leech that a leech line cannot stop, and eventually destroy the sail. It's why battens are there in the first place.

If the OPs sail has battens, I'd assume it has positive roach, and needs the battens.

Mainsails without battens are intentionally cut with negative roach and typically have 20% less sail area than a regular main, and 10% less than a mast-furling main with battens.

 

[Ron20324]

Are thinner battens an option/solution?

 

[Grouperhound]

If a mainsail is cut with positive roach (like 99.9% of mainsails designed to be used with battens are), using it without battens will generally result in constant flutter on the leech that a leech line cannot stop, and eventually destroy the sail. It's why battens are there in the first place. If the OPs sail has battens, I'd assume it has positive roach, and needs the battens. Mainsails without battens are intentionally cut with negative roach and typically have 20% less sail area than a regular main, and 10% less than a mast-furling main with battens.

Good info. I'll monitor for flutter myself. I also have a plan to talk with the folks at Neil Pryde in the next few weeks. I'd prefer to avoid battens myself.