Fully Battened Mainsail

Your frequently asked questions ANSWERED

WHAT ARE THE BATTENS MADE FROM?

They are extruded from glass fibre and resin glue. The larger sizes are hollowed, the smaller ones are solid. They are very lightweight and yet strong enough to stand up to the rigours of marine life. The inboard and outboard end terminate with special adjusters and end caps.

WHY HAVE A FULLY BATTENED MAINSAIL?

The fully battened mainsail is an effective solution to mainsail handling without resorting to expensive bolt-on behind the mast and in-boom systems.

CAN I CRUISE WITH THIS?

Yes, there is no reason why you shouldn’t use the sail for offshore cruising. The main problem with long passages is the chaff wear, this applies to any type of sail, so just take all the usual precautions.

WHAT IF I DO SOME CLUB RACING?

You will find that there is no loss of performance when compared to a regular mainsail, if the sail is set up correctly. The rating will not alter as there is no additional penalty for longer battens. You will enjoy using the sail as it is very effective and simple to set.

WHAT IS THE BEST FORM OF REEFING SYSTEM TO USE WITH A FULLY BATTENED SAIL?

Slab reefing is definitely the best, especially if the control lines are led back to the cockpit. There are a number of single pennant-type systems available and we are happy to advise on how to set up these systems.

IS THE SAIL EASY TO SET?

Very much so, the sail is designed with the shape moulded into the panels and the battens are set to take up this shape. The sail is also very quiet to operate, especially when reefing in the windier conditions where noisy flogging mainsails can be somewhat irritating and even damaging.

MY BOAT IS FITTED WITH ONE OF THE OLDER TYPES OF BOOM ROLLER REEFING

This is not a problem as the sail can be finished with the adjusters at the outboard end of the pocket and the sail can be wound round the boom in the traditional manner.

SHOULD I FIT LAZY JACKS?

This will undoubtedly be a help when the sail is being lowered. They should be able to be lowered when the sail is set, especially if you are on a long passage

WILL MY EXISTING BOOM COVER FIT?

The way the sail is distributed more evenly along the boom means that your old boom cover will probably be a bit tight. It can be made bigger by inserting a new panel but the best solution is to have a new one made from the new range of acrylic.

WILL I NEED SPECIAL SLIDES?

Much has been made about the need for special slides, but for most yachts up to 40’loa, the standard slides have been found to be quite satisfactory. There are a range of roller sliders that can be added to the sails but they are expensive.

And what if I don’t want the fully battened mainsail? We still produce the standard classic style of sail and even battenless roachless too.

To place an order, obtain a quote or to make an enquiry go straight to our Quotation Request Page.