To Batten or Not

[Bob Pullen HC-33 1981]

I have a Cherubini 33 1983, and am having a main built. The boat is in Titusville, Fl, and will be heading to NW Cuba (thru Okeechobee & Ft. Jefferson), then onto the Yucatan, spending a large portion of the time thereafter on small daysails, anchored, etc...all in the sun, on that coast. Not very often will I have the luxury of a tie-up to a dock with a fresh water bath for the sails. Question: Should I have the new sails either fully battened or not at all? If anyone could also supply the rationale behind their advice, it will be sincerely appreciated. Thanks for the replies.All the bestBob

 

[Alan]

The job of a batten is to support the roach of the main. Full battens are used to great success on large roached mains because they transfer the load to the mast. The down side of full battens is that they artificially induce shape into the main which may or may not be the correct shape. The amount of camber in the batten is based on the tension the batten is set with. Some have an adjustment that can be changed with various wind conditions. All of this has nothing whatever to do with giving your sails a fresh water bath. All battens, regardless of length, are removable. So when it comes time to remove your main it can be done with or without the battens.

 

[Bill Roosa]

Do you want a roach?

If you get a sail with a roach (sail fabric that extends beyond the straight line between the head and clew) you will need a batton of some kind. Full lenght battons are good and bad for all the reasons Alan mentioned. If the sail shop can do full length it can do regular length also.So your decision comes down to do "I want a roach?" if no then you don't need any battons at all. If yes then you have to balance the following: battons = chafe, battons give me more sail area and therefore a POTENTALLY faster passage, battons break and need replaced from time to time, full lenght battons need to be adjustable and that is a learned art to get it right and have a sail shape that workes,(a real pain to do when the wind pipes up too as you have to lower the sail to reach to upper ones), partial length battons don't have this problem and chafe less that full length (all other things being equal like construction)I note for your consideration that a lot of blue water sailboat do not have any battons. Apparently the maintenance was not worth the extra speed the roach provided. BTW roaches are a racing invention.

 

[Bob Pullen HC-33 1981]

Understanding a bit better now! many thanks!

Thanks Bill & Alan. I am starting to understand the role of battens a bit better. If low-maintenance, manageability, and longevity were to override the need for increased speed, would it then be safe to say "no battens" would be preferred? I was under the impression that partial battens flogged and often caused tears earlier than full battens? Apparently not?Are full battens just as easy to reef as no battens?Thank you all for taking the time to share your insight! Very much appreciated. Please add at will since I do check back often. Good sailing to all.Bob Pullen

 

[Alan]

Bob Pullen

To your question, Absolutely, the kind of battens you have will have no effect on reefing.My suggestion would be to opt for the shorter battens. As the sail ages, the leech will open more and the battens will help to control this. I would also strongly advise you have the leech line lead forward to the front of the sail. Adjusting leech flutter on a reach with the boom out over the water is near impossible, whereas when it is at the mast it can be done on any point of sail.