Sport Today

The Two person method:
Last year I was shown a great tip on how to tension a batten with a
camber.   While tighening the batten strap, have a second person push
down on the batten pocket a few inches behind the camber (about 8 to
10" from the mast).  This will bow the batten and allow you to tension
it more easily.  Honest, this will reduce the needed effort by 25-40%,
assuming that you have sails that require lots of batten tension.

The One person method:
In the past, I've always used the batten buckle to help leverage
the batten strap tigher.  This worked with my old sails, but with my
new sails, I've broken a couple of this buckles, so I need to find a
new method for those times when a second person isn't readily available.
Any suggestions?   I can downhaul almost any sail with my rigging tool,
but getting battens properly tensions has always been a struggle.  Has
anyone ever created a tool for tightening up batten straps?

Also, I need to find a sail shop in the north S.F. Bay (Marin) that can
replace a couple of buckles.  (Yea, I feel a bit foolish about not
changing after I broke the first buckle, but when the wind is blowing...)

Thanks,

Kevin

Bob Hain  

: Tensioning Battens with Camber Inducers

: The Two person method:
: Last year I was shown a great tip on how to tension a batten with a
: camber.   While tighening the batten strap, have a second person push
: down on the batten pocket a few inches behind the camber (about 8 to
: 10" from the mast).  This will bow the batten and allow you to tension
: it more easily.  Honest, this will reduce the needed effort by 25-40%,
: assuming that you have sails that require lots of batten tension.

: The One person method:
: In the past, I've always used the batten buckle to help leverage
: the batten strap tigher.  This worked with my old sails, but with my
: new sails, I've broken a couple of this buckles, so I need to find a
: new method for those times when a second person isn't readily available.
: Any suggestions?   I can downhaul almost any sail with my rigging tool,
: but getting battens properly tensions has always been a struggle.  Has
: anyone ever created a tool for tightening up batten straps?

: Also, I need to find a sail shop in the north S.F. Bay (Marin) that can
: replace a couple of buckles.  (Yea, I feel a bit foolish about not
: changing after I broke the first buckle, but when the wind is blowing...)

: Thanks,

: Kevin

The solution is so simple it was not until somebody showed me I
discovered I had spent two years struggling in vain.

I use Gaastra 7.5, 6.7 and 5.7 race sails with 3, 4 and 5 camber inducers.

Put the sail on the mast in the normal way any apply a litte downhaul. Put
on the boom (keeps the sail off the floor and helps stop scratching).
Tighen the cambers (no effort nedded to get them VERY VERY tight).
Then apply the downhaul.

You may need to experiment with the "initail" downhaul as your cambers may
not move down the mast as you apply the downhaul. My friend applies
normal down haul first and backs off as his cambers don't slide vertically
up and down the mast well. You may also find that the little ***s pop
off :-).

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