Mystery (partially) solved

[Sandero]

Last year I found a fairly long bolt on the deck... it was about 3/8" Ø and 6" long... I had no idea where it came from.

This Spring I was setting the mainsail up and took apart one of the Shaefer batt cars... because the leech loaded batten wouldn't go all the in. What I discoved was there was a sort of end fitting which "received" the forward end of the batten inside the batt slide. It had a bolt hole... hmmmm that's the bolt which I found. Of the 4 cars.. there was only 1 with a bolt and one that I found...so 2 have gone missing.. probably on a gybe or something... flailing main when it was coming down.

Now to figure out what function does this bolt have. presumable if you tighten it... the end fitting at the forward end of the batten will be pull aft... and I suppose this would tension the batten against the velcroed flap at the leech... If the battens are short. But they are damn tight as it is.

Any comments?

[Badsanta]

Photo?

[Paul L]

Minor adjustment of the tension on the batten.

[Sandero]

I think this is correct... the batt slide tensions system seems to offer a way to adjust for batten lengths up to a few inches shorter... But if the battens are full length... they push the adjuster block forward until it can't go further. No tension adjustment seems necessary or even possible.. and why? it would bow the sail...

[Paul L]

And the correct shape of a sail is curved like the bow in an airplane wing.