I just bought a 1998 Hunter 240. After sailing in a stiff breeze I noticed my battens were sliding out when I changed tack. I have Doyle sails and the top two battens are velcroed in, and the last inch or so remains outside the back edge of the sail unless forced inside making the sail curve to allow the batten to fit. Do I force the batten in? If so the sail sometimes remains cupped to the opposite side of the wind, until enough wind pops the sail through to the leeward side. Are any others experiencing this problem? I also experienced water inside my boat and discovered that it was coming in throught the plexiglass panels leading to the galley, when I was washing the boat. Any solutions?
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ted
chris, Battens are a science all by itself.
One could spend hours on this subject with much debate. But to answer your question: Yes the batten should be on the inside. You mentioned velco. On most sails the veloco on the batten pockets are there to adjust the batten tension. (not sure if yours is made that way) If you have adjustable tension then it sounds like your batten is tensioned to tight. If you dont have adjustable pockets then it sounds like your batten is to long when you stuff it inside the little end pocket. You can cut the end off you batten down a little from leech end until you get the proper draft you want once the batten is inserted. How does the draft look now with the batten on the inside. Is it too full and about at 50% from the luff? Ted
One could spend hours on this subject with much debate. But to answer your question: Yes the batten should be on the inside. You mentioned velco. On most sails the veloco on the batten pockets are there to adjust the batten tension. (not sure if yours is made that way) If you have adjustable tension then it sounds like your batten is tensioned to tight. If you dont have adjustable pockets then it sounds like your batten is to long when you stuff it inside the little end pocket. You can cut the end off you batten down a little from leech end until you get the proper draft you want once the batten is inserted. How does the draft look now with the batten on the inside. Is it too full and about at 50% from the luff? Ted
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Gerard
lost batten solution
I lost one batten from our H26 main a couple times. The velcro just didn't want to hold. I sealed the batten pockets with sail tape. No more problems. The battens should not affect sail shape, only maintain it. You may need to cut them down slightly. Good luck...
I lost one batten from our H26 main a couple times. The velcro just didn't want to hold. I sealed the batten pockets with sail tape. No more problems. The battens should not affect sail shape, only maintain it. You may need to cut them down slightly. Good luck...
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Jeff Peltier
There is a slot
for the velcro strap to go through before being fastened. This helps alot, but they can still come loose. I add a couple stitches of thread to make sure it doesn't come unfastened and leave the battens in. Replacing the topping lift with a solid vang helps also, as often the topping lift catching the batten tip is what causes it to shake loose. Jeff Peltier
for the velcro strap to go through before being fastened. This helps alot, but they can still come loose. I add a couple stitches of thread to make sure it doesn't come unfastened and leave the battens in. Replacing the topping lift with a solid vang helps also, as often the topping lift catching the batten tip is what causes it to shake loose. Jeff Peltier
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Mark
Velcro
On our 260, I think on the very first day we pulled up the main and the wind blew and blew. The battens had been inserted so (and yes you should never never assume) thought all will be OK. Well the sail began to flog and you guessed it out flew one batten and then another. What hadn't been done was that it is not a matter of just folding the velcro over the end of the batten. You "must" slide the valcro under a serperate seam at the open end of the pocket and then fasten. This has solved the problen completely however as a matter of caution I have also fitted batted ends with a hole in them to secure (just in case) with fine cord. The lenght of batten is very important so just make sure the batten is fitting right into the end of the pocket. Ours can protude about 1-2 inches when not fully installed. It may sound silly but just make sure you have the right length bated for the right slot. Of course they may also be tappered so it pays to get some advice if you are not sure. I have marked the battens on this yacht with a felt marker pen indicating which end goes in first, the position on the sail and which edge is up. Means you get them spot on every time which again can effect performance. Good luck with your new yacht. Boy we love getting more of you guys into Hunters.
On our 260, I think on the very first day we pulled up the main and the wind blew and blew. The battens had been inserted so (and yes you should never never assume) thought all will be OK. Well the sail began to flog and you guessed it out flew one batten and then another. What hadn't been done was that it is not a matter of just folding the velcro over the end of the batten. You "must" slide the valcro under a serperate seam at the open end of the pocket and then fasten. This has solved the problen completely however as a matter of caution I have also fitted batted ends with a hole in them to secure (just in case) with fine cord. The lenght of batten is very important so just make sure the batten is fitting right into the end of the pocket. Ours can protude about 1-2 inches when not fully installed. It may sound silly but just make sure you have the right length bated for the right slot. Of course they may also be tappered so it pays to get some advice if you are not sure. I have marked the battens on this yacht with a felt marker pen indicating which end goes in first, the position on the sail and which edge is up. Means you get them spot on every time which again can effect performance. Good luck with your new yacht. Boy we love getting more of you guys into Hunters.
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Alan Long
Flying Battens
I've found that the velcro tab fastening the battens will brush against the topping lift and slowly open up. This is especially noticeable on the second batten from the top. Placing the velcro through the slot helps a lot, but it still works loose. I've stitched the ends of all the velcro tabs down so they can't be worked loose by the topping lift. It seems to be working. Alan Long
I've found that the velcro tab fastening the battens will brush against the topping lift and slowly open up. This is especially noticeable on the second batten from the top. Placing the velcro through the slot helps a lot, but it still works loose. I've stitched the ends of all the velcro tabs down so they can't be worked loose by the topping lift. It seems to be working. Alan Long
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Brad Amundson
Stitched On New Velcro
This has been very perplexing for me also I finally stitched on new Velcro and when I did that I realized that I was not using the slot everyone is talking about. So far so good but I do think the topping lift is my next move.
This has been very perplexing for me also I finally stitched on new Velcro and when I did that I realized that I was not using the slot everyone is talking about. So far so good but I do think the topping lift is my next move.
Drill holes in the batten and stitch them in.
Chris: Another thing to try is to drill two small holes near the aft end of the batten. Then you can just stitch the batten into the sail through the sail pocket. Just use some heavy duty sail thread and you will have it.
Chris: Another thing to try is to drill two small holes near the aft end of the batten. Then you can just stitch the batten into the sail through the sail pocket. Just use some heavy duty sail thread and you will have it.
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Chris Jensen
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Mark
Last call!
The fine cord that I have tied to the batten ends is fixed by passing one end through the pocket along side the velcro with the other going over and tying off. This I think is the best fix cos you can still get the battens out with ease.
The fine cord that I have tied to the batten ends is fixed by passing one end through the pocket along side the velcro with the other going over and tying off. This I think is the best fix cos you can still get the battens out with ease.
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Bart
all these things neccesary?
I lost the long one the first year I had the boat.Hunter kept sending me more, but never the right one. I finally gave up and took all of them out. Never have seen these in any catalogs. Anyone got a good source?
I lost the long one the first year I had the boat.Hunter kept sending me more, but never the right one. I finally gave up and took all of them out. Never have seen these in any catalogs. Anyone got a good source?
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Jonathan Dyer
Batten Shopping
I recently lost a batten - second one up from the boom. The topping lift theory seems the most likely culprit. I've e-mailed Doyle's loft in Alameda and the Northern California Hunter Dealer (small boats). No luck so far but I'm hanging in there. I'll let you know if either one comes through.
I recently lost a batten - second one up from the boom. The topping lift theory seems the most likely culprit. I've e-mailed Doyle's loft in Alameda and the Northern California Hunter Dealer (small boats). No luck so far but I'm hanging in there. I'll let you know if either one comes through.
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Rick Webb
West Marine
They will order it by the foot for you do not forget to order the end caps as well. I melted holes in the ends of my battens and just tied a line secured with a square knot at the ends and have not lost another one since.
They will order it by the foot for you do not forget to order the end caps as well. I melted holes in the ends of my battens and just tied a line secured with a square knot at the ends and have not lost another one since.
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crazy dave
12 foot sections
You can order 12 foot sections and cut it to your size from West Marine. Make sure that you either order the caps or simply file the edges round on the battens. Crazy dave Condon
You can order 12 foot sections and cut it to your size from West Marine. Make sure that you either order the caps or simply file the edges round on the battens. Crazy dave Condon
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Tom
Doyle...
Hi all, First off all, everyone that has all their battens, take each one out and measure its length and width and record these in your manual or ship's log. In case you need a replacement, you'll know the dimensions. All my battens are the same width. I lost one on my 1999 H260. The topping lift snagged the closure and opened it up. I saw the batten come down, land in the water and sink out of site. I contacted the local Doyle loft for a replacement. No problem, they looked it up and sent me "just what I needed" -- wrong size, too wide. Next, after measuring the width of the remaining battens, I contacted Hunter who put me in touch with their local Doyle loft (Bahamas or Florida??) and they did send me the right width, oversized in length a few inches so I could cut it down to the right size. I drilled a hole about an inch from the end, put an 8 inch loop of string on it and tie that to the closure loop, after it is installed, to prevent the thing from popping out incase the batten flap opens again. It hasn't so far. Fair winds... Tom
Hi all, First off all, everyone that has all their battens, take each one out and measure its length and width and record these in your manual or ship's log. In case you need a replacement, you'll know the dimensions. All my battens are the same width. I lost one on my 1999 H260. The topping lift snagged the closure and opened it up. I saw the batten come down, land in the water and sink out of site. I contacted the local Doyle loft for a replacement. No problem, they looked it up and sent me "just what I needed" -- wrong size, too wide. Next, after measuring the width of the remaining battens, I contacted Hunter who put me in touch with their local Doyle loft (Bahamas or Florida??) and they did send me the right width, oversized in length a few inches so I could cut it down to the right size. I drilled a hole about an inch from the end, put an 8 inch loop of string on it and tie that to the closure loop, after it is installed, to prevent the thing from popping out incase the batten flap opens again. It hasn't so far. Fair winds... Tom
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Jonathan Dyer
Doyle
Doyle in Alameda, California, responded and I hope to be getting the correct batten from them soon. Their response was fairly prompt. Just wanted to let you know.
Doyle in Alameda, California, responded and I hope to be getting the correct batten from them soon. Their response was fairly prompt. Just wanted to let you know.
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crazy dave
Please look at my post
Trying to get correct length battens from any source other than Hunter is like beating your head over rock. Go buy the 5/8 inch batten material in 12 foot sections and make your own as you can get the correct length. You can get the caps or better yet grind the edges smooth. You can save alot of mondy buying that 12 foot section and if you loose another, you got additonal material. Check out How Chandlrey and if not, West Marine. Me smokim peace pipe and me go drink some suds. Oh shucks, my friend who made my last shine got busted. Gotta find another way to loose them thar brain cells. Crazyd Dave condon
Trying to get correct length battens from any source other than Hunter is like beating your head over rock. Go buy the 5/8 inch batten material in 12 foot sections and make your own as you can get the correct length. You can get the caps or better yet grind the edges smooth. You can save alot of mondy buying that 12 foot section and if you loose another, you got additonal material. Check out How Chandlrey and if not, West Marine. Me smokim peace pipe and me go drink some suds. Oh shucks, my friend who made my last shine got busted. Gotta find another way to loose them thar brain cells. Crazyd Dave condon
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browndog
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