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Factors to consider are:
1. The type of curve - Tapered or Untapered ?
2. The ‘Stiffness’ or ‘Compression’ of the batten ?
The whole aim of the Sailmaker’s art is to develop lift to drive the boat through the water. A sail is like an aircraft’s wing and is designed to develop as much lift with as little drag as possible. And how many wings have you seen with a 50% wing shape?
Modern sails are designed and made with their position of maximum camber at between 38% and 45%.
Max. depth at 38%- 45%.
So why use untapered battens? Except for special cases like top battens for some cats, dinghies and yachts, there is no good reason. Untapered fullbattens distort sail shape by moving the draft or designed shape too far aft in light or moderate wind, and are not stiff enough in the back in strong wind. They give high lift (in the sideways direction) and high drag. If your rig is not accelerating in gusts but just developing heeling moment then your battens could be the problem. Untapered battens also lower the life span of your sail by working against the sailmakers design. Cheap, low quality untapered battens cost you more in the long run.
Fiberfoam’s Foam Sandwich construction techniques have been tried and tested over 20 years and our battens remain the first choice for today’s discerning sailor. The New 42%* profile has been tested and proved as the ideal profile for modern Fullbattened Rigs. And because the battens are flat, they have a lesser tendency to ‘S’ in the batten pocket and are more resistant to torque. They develop less side-stay chafe than round or ribbed profiles, and give a smoother overall sail shape than other profiles. And when solid glass-fibre tube or solid battens break - as they can do - you not only loose the regatta, but face an expensive repair cost as well. When one considers the cost of the Rig : Mast, Sails, and Battens - and the relative importance that battens have in terms of sail-life, ease of handling and boat performance, then the case for choosing Fiberfoam battens is compelling.
For guide see 'Batten Selection Chart' and 'Class Sets' .
A battens’ ‘Stiffness’ or ‘Compression’ is simply the force, in Kg/m2 or pounds/ft2, that is required to bend it to a certain point. That certain point is where any increased bending of the batten gives very little change to the Kg. or pound reading of the scale.
At Fiberfoam we have detailed specifications for many classes and types of boats.
For stiffness guide see 'Batten Selection Chart' . |