Thanks for the info At your service Larry Pegg M-17 Pilgrim #55 208 249 0538 -----Original Message----- From: GILASAILR@aol.com To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com Sent: Sun, 7 Sep 2008 8:13 pm Subject: Re: M_Boats: Question about battens Guys, The best thing to do is take a piece of batten that you still have (pref. the longest one) and insert it into the batten pockets that are missing, the end of the pocket is to be marked (sharpie) and do this for each missing batten. This will give you an approximate length. I order my battens from Ullman Sails (either Newport Beach or San Diego) Ask for tapered battens of the length you have noted. When they arrive, adjust the length to fit the pocket by sanding,filing,sawing off the excess length. Make the adjustment at the outboard end (not the tapered end) - sand all corners smooth like a baby butt so they don't chafe and wear a hole in your batten pockets. You may also try contacting Bete-Fleming - they used to make my favorite tapered laminated battens. Be sure to specify a width of the material. Your battens may be different lengths due to different sailmakers - this is not a "tightly controlled one-design" scenario. The battens should fit in the pocket with a bit of tension (wrangling) in order that they do not fly out whilst luffing. Does not hurt to have spares - if using wood -traditionally ash - I would wrap them in vinyl tape as when ash battens break they tear sails. Ash or any wood battens also warp - not great for sailshape! Take Care,Have Fun GO M -17 # 316a LB/GF! M - 6.8 M - 7-11 a mini fleet now! In a message dated 9/7/2008 6:01:45 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, larrypegg@aol.com writes: I lost my top batten this weekend too.? And one of the others is not in to good of shape.? SO any help on replacements or.... thanks in advance. At your service Larry Pegg Pilgrim M-17 # 55 208 249 0538 -----Original Message----- From: Andrei Caldararu <andreic@math.wisc.edu> To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Sat, 6 Sep 2008 8:36 pm Subject: M_Boats: Question about battens Hello, on my M-17 (unnamed yet, 1982), I think the second batten from the top is too long, and the third one from the top is missing entirely. As a consequence, in light wind the sail has a funny shape, getting a sharp bend at the battens' line. I'm sure that's not helping me move any faster (and my skills aren't helping it, either :-)). Does anyone know what length the battens need to be, or how to figure this out experimentally? Thanks, Andrei. _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats **************Psssst...Have you heard the news? There's a new fashion blog, plus the latest fall trends and hair styles at StyleList.com. (http://www.stylelist.com/trends?ncid=aolsty00050000000014) _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats