I know this is probably a stupid questions, but Im going to ask it anyway. I have a 2007 Hunter 25, and have yet to install the battens in the main sail. It seems to sail just fine without them. What purpose do they serve, and would I gain any speed with them installed. Thank you in advance for any input.
main sail battens
- Thread starter Mike16400
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They are needed only if you have a roach
No not cockroaches!!! The roach is that part of the mainsail that extends aft of the straight line between the head and clew cringles. It adds sail area to the mainsail and is generally considered a good thing from a performance standpoint. If the leach (no not the blood sucking kind) is not flapping then you don't have a roach and you really don't NEED battens. Battens are generally considered by the cruising community as a great way to prematurely wear out a sail. They are considered by the racing community as an absolute necessity as the roach is not supported with out them and therefore useless. Most cruising boats don't have roaches. Head - the "top" corner of the sail Clew - the "aft lower" corner of the sail Tack - the "forward lower" corner of the sail (just so you know) cringle - a "worked" hole in the sail so you can pass a line through it. Usually at one of the corners. worked - The act of adding reinforcements to a portion of a sail. In times past when everything was done by hand this reinforcement was a significant amount of work as you where sewing through up to 10 layers of material and leather. Leach - the edge of a sail between the head and clew. foot - the edge of a sail between the clew and tack luft - the edge of a sail between the tack and the head I have found that the difference between a salty dog and a land-lubber is the vocabulary he has. EVERY profession has a language it uses so it can communicate efficiently. If you want to be a professional then you need to learn the language. Not a criticism and observation. And there is not such thing as a stupid question, just stupid answers. ;-)
No not cockroaches!!! The roach is that part of the mainsail that extends aft of the straight line between the head and clew cringles. It adds sail area to the mainsail and is generally considered a good thing from a performance standpoint. If the leach (no not the blood sucking kind) is not flapping then you don't have a roach and you really don't NEED battens. Battens are generally considered by the cruising community as a great way to prematurely wear out a sail. They are considered by the racing community as an absolute necessity as the roach is not supported with out them and therefore useless. Most cruising boats don't have roaches. Head - the "top" corner of the sail Clew - the "aft lower" corner of the sail Tack - the "forward lower" corner of the sail (just so you know) cringle - a "worked" hole in the sail so you can pass a line through it. Usually at one of the corners. worked - The act of adding reinforcements to a portion of a sail. In times past when everything was done by hand this reinforcement was a significant amount of work as you where sewing through up to 10 layers of material and leather. Leach - the edge of a sail between the head and clew. foot - the edge of a sail between the clew and tack luft - the edge of a sail between the tack and the head I have found that the difference between a salty dog and a land-lubber is the vocabulary he has. EVERY profession has a language it uses so it can communicate efficiently. If you want to be a professional then you need to learn the language. Not a criticism and observation. And there is not such thing as a stupid question, just stupid answers. ;-)
Bill
Yup, it's an eyeball. My eyeball to be exact, taken up close, slightly smashed, and the colors inverted.
Yup, it's an eyeball. My eyeball to be exact, taken up close, slightly smashed, and the colors inverted.
Very important to sail shape
Actually, battens are not specific to mainsails with large roaches. The are an important part of all mainsails since they shape the leech. Without them the leech has a tendency to hook which disturbs the air as it comes off the back of the main. The battens flatten the exit on the main and allow the mainsail to be more efficient. You should put them in and learn how to read them for proper mainsail trim.
Actually, battens are not specific to mainsails with large roaches. The are an important part of all mainsails since they shape the leech. Without them the leech has a tendency to hook which disturbs the air as it comes off the back of the main. The battens flatten the exit on the main and allow the mainsail to be more efficient. You should put them in and learn how to read them for proper mainsail trim.
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