Sail weight and number of battens

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wcwcwc
Posts: 94
Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2008 12:00 pm
Location: F36 Padanaram, MA

Sail weight and number of battens

Post by wcwcwc »

My sails are old and need replacements.

The sailmakers I have contacted specified 5 full length battens but currently I have 7. What is better?

What weight cloth is best?

Currently I'm day sailing with costal vacation cruises thrown in, in the future who knows.
Bill Cormack
Formerly Sailing F-36 "Hard Earned" out of New Bedford Yacht Club, Padanaram, MA. Now a member of Pelagic Sailing Club a New England based club whose members are about half boat owners and half crew.

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GeoffSchultz
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Joined: Thu Dec 04, 2008 8:39 am
Location: BlueJacket: Guatemala
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Re: Sail weight and number of battens

Post by GeoffSchultz »

I can't tell you what's best, but on my 40/40 I have an Antal track with 6 Batt-cars (that the battens go into to) and plain sliders in between the Batt-cars. The more battens you add, the heavier the sail will be.

Regard the cloth weight, you need to discuss the type of sailing that you do with the sailmaker. If you're doing a lot of off-shore, long distance cruising, then you want something bulletproof. If most of your sailing is day sailing on the bay, then go with something lighter that's easier to handle. My main, without battens is 85 lbs and is a bear to get on and off.

-- Geoff
BlueJacket
1997 Freedom 40/40
http://www.GeoffSchultz.org

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