Sail Batten Replacement

[neosoul]

I just cleaned my sails today and for the first time since I purchased this boat, I had a chance to look at them very closely. The two headsails that came with the boat - a jib and genoa are in fair to good condition, with the genny in the best condition. The mainsail is another story. This sail has to be the one that came with the boat in 1985. The insignia and sail numbers are cracked and peeling; not only is this sail softer than a fleece blanket, but Skip was right! One of the 3 battens is broken. Although I can't replace the sail this season - even with some great prices I found at Peak Sails North America. (When I am ready to buy I'll ask you all about this Company or others you would recommend.) - I do need to replace the one broken batten. This broken teak batten looks to be smaller, but close in size to the the 18 1/8" batten I also removed. I cant really determine with any degree of certainty the size because of the break and how the PO tried to repaired it.

Anyway, would anyone know the size of the battens that originally came with a CP-19/2 and more importantly, does anyone know where I can find a replacement? Maybe there's one made of fiberglass out there.
Neo

[wes]

Defender.com stocks replacement fiberglass battens in various sizes. Just measure your batten pockets to get the length.

Wes

www.defender.com

[neosoul]

Wes,
Defender did not have the size I needed in their catalog or online, so called Defender and they special ordered a fiberglass one for me.
Thanks!
Neo

[Michael]

A quick and somewhat satisfactory batten can be made from the corrugated plastic campaign signs that your local politicians put up all over the place. I have made emergency replacement battens for several sails from these. Cut a batten out of one of these signs to the appropriate size, round the corners and tape the ends with heavy duty tape (I like Gorilla tape), and insert in the batten pocket. If you need more stiffness (this plastic material is pretty bendy) insert a thin strip or two of bamboo, like from a shish-kebab skewer, into the batten. Gives added satisfaction to be getting something useful out of a demonstrably useless, landfill quality object.

Fair winds,

MM in Wonder

[Craig]

You might also check in the plastic trim section at your local Lowes/Home Depot. They might have something you may be able to adapt on a temporary basis.

[skip1930]

West Marine sells plastic blank battons cut to length and correct width [you need to grind the corners round] for $4.50 a foot.

I have use old wooden yard sticks sanded to size.  Or what ever I can find ...

skip.

[neosoul]

Skip,
That's exactly what I did. I bought the blanks and sanded them to fit and to remove the edges.
BTW - when I first got the boat you mentioned to me that I should look for broken battens and you were right on about that, I just didn't get around to look at it soon enough.
Neo

[skip1930]

I usually break my battens while sailing hard and aggressively ... 'given' her everything I's got' or when rolling and flaking the main around the boom.

Some things just can't be helped ...

skip.