I recently purchased a DSII (1983) with the Neil Pryde main white, black, bright blue, light blue, white sail as pictured.
- Rigged on trailer_0t20lM_600x450.jpg (19.56 KiB) Viewed 4063 times
Elastic for the third batten pocket (from the top) was shot and I was reviewing DIY redos this weekend when my sister emailed to say that that batten flew out of the sail into Little Narragansett Bay (CT/RI). Reading my handy-dandy manual from Roger Conrad (that I had bound into a great little book), the paragraph (8.9) on battens says that the max length is 40.5". I'd rather buy a new batten than glue narrowed paint sticks together.
Looking for reassurance and a little input on my plan.
Defender sells Bete-Fleming 3' and 5' battens so I guess I need to buy the 5' (and two caps) — for about $12 — cut it down to proper length and super glue on the caps. One drop each I read. (I will go in person so no S/H.)
Width: Battens that came with the sail appeared to be 5/8" and GreenLake suggests that the 5/8" should be fine, so I guess that's what I'll do. (I will also scrounge around in the barn to see if something should turn up for free.)
Length:
- Cut to 40._" so length with caps is 40.5"? (Not sure how much to allow for the caps...)
- Or cut to be a certain amount shorter than the length of the pocket?
- Or, match batten #2?
- Or all of the above.
I've decided to roll my main along the leach and store onboard under the cover I ordered from Sailors' Tailor. I'm keeping it on a mooring.
I am not racing except for occasional for-fun in the Stonington Harbor Wednesday Night series. Plan to keep these sails for as long as possible -- have put on Dacron stick patches (both sides) that I now have UV thread to sew on to keep them from peeling off.