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/