I have now lost the lower batten on my mainsail TWICE! I see nothing wrong with the batten sleeve or pocket. This Saturday in strong winds, I saw the lower batten sticking out the back of the main. With no way to remove it while underway because of the wind, I simply lost it when I tacked. I sewed in my latest batten by drilling a hole in the end of the batten then sewing it through the pocket...with dental floss no less. Anybody else losing battens? Any idea why I am losing battens? Should I sew all my battens in?
Losing Lower Battens on 216 Mainsail!
- Thread starter Ranger Paul18580
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happens alot.
Just drill and sew like you did. I pull the batten out after drilling a small hole and use a small hot nail to seal up the hole in the sail.
Just drill and sew like you did. I pull the batten out after drilling a small hole and use a small hot nail to seal up the hole in the sail.
Battens
Took my main to my sail loft.They put small ss bolts through the leach end of all battens.They're easily removed and work like a charm.They used to drive me nuts.I don't even think of them anymore.
Took my main to my sail loft.They put small ss bolts through the leach end of all battens.They're easily removed and work like a charm.They used to drive me nuts.I don't even think of them anymore.
Also have three battens swiming with the fishes
After loosing three over two years I used a pointed soildering iron and melted a small hole through the closing strap, drilled a hole in the batten then inserted a regular clevis pin with ss flat washers and ring. Easy to remove and has held up fine.
After loosing three over two years I used a pointed soildering iron and melted a small hole through the closing strap, drilled a hole in the batten then inserted a regular clevis pin with ss flat washers and ring. Easy to remove and has held up fine.
Are they neccessary?
I have a 240. Lost the battens several years back and have never replaced them. also do you have a suggestion for a good source? I guess I ought to replace them before I sell the boat.
I have a 240. Lost the battens several years back and have never replaced them. also do you have a suggestion for a good source? I guess I ought to replace them before I sell the boat.
Try tape
I put a little piece of sail repair tape over each batten flap, following advice from this forum some time ago. I did this after losing one batten and have had no problems since. I lost a lower batten on a 240 on a windy day during a jibe. I didn't see it come out but the topping lift may have caught the leach and flipped the flap open. Does the 216 have a topping lift?
I put a little piece of sail repair tape over each batten flap, following advice from this forum some time ago. I did this after losing one batten and have had no problems since. I lost a lower batten on a 240 on a windy day during a jibe. I didn't see it come out but the topping lift may have caught the leach and flipped the flap open. Does the 216 have a topping lift?
Battens away!
Ranger Paul, I have lost several battens myself and have used a rather crude fix. I use a safety pin to close the leach end flaps. I know this is not very elegant. The real fix is to get some batten ens like the upper batten. I believe the problem is that there is nothing to keep the tension on the batten when the luff end slips off the elastic inside the pocket. With an end like the upper has, the batten stays under tension and won't come out. I have told this to the Hunter people but they obviously haven't responded.
Ranger Paul, I have lost several battens myself and have used a rather crude fix. I use a safety pin to close the leach end flaps. I know this is not very elegant. The real fix is to get some batten ens like the upper batten. I believe the problem is that there is nothing to keep the tension on the batten when the luff end slips off the elastic inside the pocket. With an end like the upper has, the batten stays under tension and won't come out. I have told this to the Hunter people but they obviously haven't responded.
North Sails Batten Closure
North sails has a neat and clean way to close the batten pocket. They put a velcro strip on the batten pocket and then have a strap made out of sail cloth with some velcro on it that folds over and closes the gap. It's easy to take the batten out and easy to put the batten in. No tools and no strings required.
North sails has a neat and clean way to close the batten pocket. They put a velcro strip on the batten pocket and then have a strap made out of sail cloth with some velcro on it that folds over and closes the gap. It's easy to take the batten out and easy to put the batten in. No tools and no strings required.
Replacement Batten Source
I got my replacement battens directly from Hunter. The 216 sails are from North. North does not make the battens for the 216 mainsail. Presumably you could purchase battens from your Hunter dealer.
I got my replacement battens directly from Hunter. The 216 sails are from North. North does not make the battens for the 216 mainsail. Presumably you could purchase battens from your Hunter dealer.
Contacted North Sails
FYI: Because we are all losing battens, it would appear that North Sails has a problem that is costing us all money. I sent the following to North Sails (I will post the results when I hear back from them): "I wonder if you could help me? I have a new Hunter 216 and I have lost the lower batten on the main twice now. Using the www.hunterowners.com website, I have found that other Hunter owners are also losing their battens. Replacing the battens is, of course, expensive. So far this has cost me $44. One of the other Hunter 216 owners theorizes that the batten firsts slips out of the elastic band within the batten sleeve which then allows the batten to flog about until it slips out of the batten pocket and shortly thereafter, the batten becomes one with the ocean bottom. Because I am not the only one experiencing this problem, I would guess there is a design error causing the lost battens. Following is the URL where this problem is discussed : http://www.sailboatowners.com/forums/pviewall.tpl?fno=5&SKU=2004335184212.95&uid=73202826533 Do you have any suggestions for a final solution to this problem?"
FYI: Because we are all losing battens, it would appear that North Sails has a problem that is costing us all money. I sent the following to North Sails (I will post the results when I hear back from them): "I wonder if you could help me? I have a new Hunter 216 and I have lost the lower batten on the main twice now. Using the www.hunterowners.com website, I have found that other Hunter owners are also losing their battens. Replacing the battens is, of course, expensive. So far this has cost me $44. One of the other Hunter 216 owners theorizes that the batten firsts slips out of the elastic band within the batten sleeve which then allows the batten to flog about until it slips out of the batten pocket and shortly thereafter, the batten becomes one with the ocean bottom. Because I am not the only one experiencing this problem, I would guess there is a design error causing the lost battens. Following is the URL where this problem is discussed : http://www.sailboatowners.com/forums/pviewall.tpl?fno=5&SKU=2004335184212.95&uid=73202826533 Do you have any suggestions for a final solution to this problem?"
Have also lost battens
We have also lost battens twice so far during races. Fortunately, they dropped down into tne boat during a jibe and we didn't loose them. Just posting this so that North can see the extent of this problem - It's not just a couple of boats, it's most of us who sail in heavy weather.
We have also lost battens twice so far during races. Fortunately, they dropped down into tne boat during a jibe and we didn't loose them. Just posting this so that North can see the extent of this problem - It's not just a couple of boats, it's most of us who sail in heavy weather.
Ditto
Add me to the list. Lost one on my last day out for the season in heavy winds. I'm waiting to replace it until I put the boat back in the water this spring. (Can't come soon enough) Hopefully by then North Sails will have a fix. Has anyone tried the replacement battens West Marine sells, or should I just order them through Hunter?
Add me to the list. Lost one on my last day out for the season in heavy winds. I'm waiting to replace it until I put the boat back in the water this spring. (Can't come soon enough) Hopefully by then North Sails will have a fix. Has anyone tried the replacement battens West Marine sells, or should I just order them through Hunter?
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