Author Topic: Full Batten Main  (Read 8746 times)

Captain Bri

  • Brian
  • Ensign
  • Sr. Member
  • *
  • Posts: 142
  • Karma: 2
  • Sailmaker
    • View Profile
    • RedSkySails.com
  • Model: Ensign
  • City: Anytown
  • State: Ct
Full Batten Main
« on: April 12, 2011, 06:38:37 PM »
I recently acquired my P323 and need a new main.  I was considering the pro's and con's of a full batten main from Doyle http://www.doylesails.com/cruising/durasail/fullbatten/index.html.  Any owners out there have any comments on upgrading their P323 to full battens?

Here is a response from one long time P323 owner that I think makes a pretty good case for it:
"Glad you mentioned the full batten main.  One of the critiques of the Pearson 323, 365 and 424 family is that they didn’t point well.  And they didn’t.  Partly because they were relatively shallow draft boats (compared to deep fin racers) and partly because of the mainsail of 1979.  The full batten main on that boat moves it up 10 notches on the pointing scale.  That seems to be just what it needed, and now it points so well that I need to get a new jib that is hard cut with a small belly so that it will drive with the main.  I love it.  I now have a new full batten on the 424. I always thought Hobie Alter figured that out when he put full batten mains on the Hobie's long ago.  That was the only way to get them to go up wind."

« Last Edit: January 01, 2013, 02:37:16 AM by SeaFever »
Men and Ships; Rot in Port

selene

  • P323
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 376
  • Karma: 6
  • Mighty Member
    • View Profile
  • Model: P323
  • Vessel Name: Selene
  • City: Redwood City
  • State: CA
Re: Full Batten Main
« Reply #1 on: April 22, 2011, 12:04:31 PM »
FWIW, my 323 had a recent ('05) full-batten loose-footed main when I bought it.  Although I don't therefore have experience with any other main, I have to say that this is a pretty sweet setup. There was also a long discussion on Sailnet about this, and (as I recall) the consensus is that loose-footed is a very good option, and if you go loose-footed then full battens are the way to go.

Captain Bri

  • Brian
  • Ensign
  • Sr. Member
  • *
  • Posts: 142
  • Karma: 2
  • Sailmaker
    • View Profile
    • RedSkySails.com
  • Model: Ensign
  • City: Anytown
  • State: Ct
Re: Full Batten Main
« Reply #2 on: April 23, 2011, 10:28:23 AM »
Doyle Sails, along with many other Sailmakers are now building loose-footed Mainsails as the norm. Irrespective of full-batten or partial-batten a loose-footed sail will clearly give you a larger range of camber adjustment without interference from the boom. Adjust-ability is goodness! Of course there are trade-offs (as always) in that much more of the load is directly on the clew, which requires that the reinforcement patch and associated slug are the appropriate size and strength. The outhaul has to be strong and in good working order to tighten as wind speed increases or you may find yourself overpowered in a hurry.

One of the primary advantages of full-battens (besides performance) for a cruising boat, is that it prolongs the life of the sail by minimizing the incidence of sail flogging, which can prematurely damage and age your new Dacron sail. There was the time, after getting my new Quantum Dacron sails for my J22, I took it to a regatta at Dillon in the mountains. We had what was said to be a 50kn squall in the middle of a race - we got through it OK, but many rescues took place that day in the cold water. After the one weekend regatta my new sails looked like they had at least one year's worth of use on them. I was a novice racer at the time and the J22 mainsail had partial battens with no reef points.  

With full battens one of the trade-offs are that the luff and batten pockets need to be strong and a mast slide system is desirable to support the hoist and weight of full battens. And lazy jacks too -- It sounds like the price tag for a new main is going up!
« Last Edit: April 23, 2011, 10:37:27 AM by SeaFever »
Men and Ships; Rot in Port