What a few Sailmakers say about Full Batten Mains, and Sail Car Systems:
Neil Pryde
Sails (Hardware Review):
We recommend this system highly and should be considered at the top of the list when
shopping for integrated track / batten systems.
Neil Pryde Sails: Issue 18, Strong Track Review
North
Sails (Solutions for Cruising Sailors)
The statement that "full batten sails are difficult to raise" needs to be qualified. If the
mast track accepts flat slides, or uses a car system from
Harken, Antal, Tides
Marine, Fredrickson etc, then the sail will go up and down without any trouble. On the other hand, if the
mast track is designed to accept barrel shaped slides (commonly referred to as "slug slides") then full battens can be a problem.
What Cruising Sailors Need to Know
Mauri Sails:
Mauri Sails: Full Batten Mainsails
Nance & Underwood:
Nance Underwood Sails and Rigging Tides Marine
Inspired by the discussion:
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...iner-6649.html
Quote:
Originally Posted by islandplanet
I never said everyone needed a track system. Depends on the boat, type of track on the mast, size of sail, # of battens, and the customer. I think your analysis runs counter to much of the thinking in the industry. Large full batten sails will always weigh more and put compression loads on the batten end receptacles. Unavoidable fact of life that has nothing to do with who builds the sail. You'll hear far more complaints about raising and reefing full batten sails than you will about the investment made in Strong Track. Adding a track system at the time of purchasing a new main is far more economical than retrofitting after the fact. How long have you had your full batten main? Sounds like you have a ketch which will have a smaller main than a sloop of similar size.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chuck Baier
My analysis may be contrary to the "industry" but not the experience of us folk out there in the real world with no financial interest in adding expensive new hardware. In our 15 years of cruising around a large portion of the watery part of the planet I don't recall anyone that added full batten sails and then came back with issues that the sails were harder to raise or anything else for that matter. These were ketches, cutters, sloops, tall rigs, short rigs, new rigs, wood spars, carbon fiber spars and aluminum spars. Our full battens have been on now for 6 years without any of the problems you suggest. They have been through gales, storms and some just great but boisterous conditions. No problems. You did mention that you sell the track systems didn't you? Sorry but in our experience we haven't heard complaints about raising or reefing from any other cruisers we have encountered with full battens. Perhaps a seriously worn spar would indeed benefit but to say most will need new track just sounds like another sales pitch.
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