Bill, I guess that properly tapered battens are important in light and may be moderate wind. In heavy air there is so much force applied to the sail that all they can do is to keep a leech side of the sail more or less flat, not allowing a sag to form there. In such conditions the wind pulls the sail up to it's design/stretch limits and battens with 3 or 6 or a little more lb deflection load cannot offer much resistance to this bending force. But I'm not sure about that and would like to know other opinions.
Also would be great to hear from these people ... Thanks Andrei --- In [EMAIL PROTECTED], "Bill Levis" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Andrei, > There are people on this list that can help determine when Hobie started > doing this from the factory. My guess is late 90's. I know for a fact that > the 80's boats did not come with tapered battens. I don't race but I do like > the sail shape that I can achieve in light to moderate winds. When it's > really blowing it's a little more difficult to flatten the sail. I would say > it would be even harder without the 6:1 mainsheet blocks and a real downhaul > purchase. > > Bill > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "apsoft4u" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Tuesday, November 09, 2004 10:47 AM > Subject: [beachcats] Re: Do you taper main battens? > > > > > > > > Bill, > > > > I guess many people like myself have older cats purchased from > > someone else and it would be nice to know for sure about what Hobie > > Cat company produces. No rush of course. > > Thanks. > > > > Andrei > > H14T, H16 > > > > --- In [EMAIL PROTECTED], "Bill Levis" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> My H16 came from the factory with tapered battens for the main. I > > am pretty > >> sure the jib has them too but not positive. If it's that important > > I can > >> pull one and let you know. > >> > >> Bill > >> > >> ----- Original Message ----- > >> From: "jv1234_99" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >> Sent: Monday, November 08, 2004 1:56 PM > >> Subject: [beachcats] Re: Do you taper main battens? > >> > >> > >> > > >> > > >> > Andrei: For what it's worth (probably not much)...I don't think > > any > >> > of the H16 battens have ever come from Hobie tapered (could be > >> > wrong). I taper the top three (6th through 8th per your > >> > nomenclature) just so that (when desired) I can get some kind of > >> > shape into them without having to honk too hard on the batten > > ties > >> > (which leads to other problems). I have no idea what the > > deflection > >> > load is, but I know that the top few battens are extremely stiff, > >> > because they're so short. From your description, it sounds like > > your > >> > 7th one is way overtapered. > >> > > >> > With all that said, I'm not sure that tapering or not makes a > > damn > >> > bit of difference on the mainsail. The tapering I've done does > > seem > >> > to help make the top main tell tale act better over a variety of > >> > conditions, though, which makes me feel better at least! I know > > some > >> > really good H16 sailors who taper all their main battens and > > some who > >> > taper none. Personally, I think that on the H16 the overall > >> > condition of the mainsail itself overrides batten > > tapering/tension > >> > factors in most instances. > >> > > >> > Now the jib is a totally different story....... > >> > > >> > Jerome Vaughan > >> > Hobie 16 "RATTLE 'N HUM" > >> > Clinton, Mississippi > >> > > >> > > >> > --- In [EMAIL PROTECTED], "apsoft4u" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> >> > >> >> That's the article I mentioned in my original post but in > > different > >> >> location. And besides the theory which is certanly absolutely > >> >> relevant for H16, it tells specifically about H14 battens > >> > deflection > >> >> load giving the numbers. Having both H14 and H16 I happened to > > know > >> >> how much bigger H16's main is and how much longer and heavier > > the > >> >> battens there. > >> >> The problem is that applying as much downhaul as possible and > >> >> sheeting main block to block, does NOT make the sail around that > >> >> weak 7th batten flat. There is too much of a draft even with > > almost > >> >> no wind. I can imagine what 20kn would do with that draft. > >> >> > >> >> Does anybody do anything with H16 battens? > >> >> > >> >> Andrei > >> >> > >> >> > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > Group Home > >> > http://www.TheBeachcats.com > >> > > >> > > >> > Yahoo! Groups Links > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > > Group Home > > http://www.TheBeachcats.com > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Group Home http://www.TheBeachcats.com Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/beachcats/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
