Early in this Teknisk tab i have expressed some views and shared some thoughts about maritime gear. All too often I find that it is not fit for the task. Understandable if I buy some general hardware items not specifically designed and produced for maritime use. Maybe understandable also if I buy some general leisure stuff meant for picnics etc. But not OK when provided by riggers, sailmakers and manufacturers of specific maritime items.
Before sailing out on a 2 year trip to the Caribbean and Bahamas, we changed the mainsail rigging from boom furler to mast track and slides. The aluminum furler boltrope mast track seemed too weak for really rough weather. Thus the sail had to be modified with batten receptacles. I had no experience at the time with such a system, and relied on the sailmakers judgement. Which was poor. Most sailmakers will tell you they have multihull experience and knowledge if you ask them. Maybe most have, but also maybe with relatively small racing boats. The forces pounding the rig of a heavy cruising catamaran is something completely different. As we know, the righting moment is almost unlimited. As I see it now, the sailmaker provided us with batten receptacles that were in the Toys-R-Us League. And of course they started breaking during the voyage.
Two and a half years ago we needed a new mainsail. (The sailmaker of the previous one had given us wrong advice about a good sailcloth when considering a tropical cruise with that sail.) Now being a slightly more experienced buyer, I challenged the new sailmaker regarding the batten receptacles to be fitted. Selden FA 30. The best they have, and sufficient for our rig, according to him. I was a bit in doubt. I had 3 Schaefer 1900-10 batten receptacles that I had bought during our cruise, and suggested they could be used at the most vulnerable places. The sailmaker did not approve of the idea, and the Selden receptacles were used.
Selden is a renowned rigging gear manufacturer, and their equipment should be up to the task. But again, when outfitting fairly large cruising catamarans, forces and wear seem to be underestimated.
The first sign was when a FA 30 batten receptacle lid popped off, leaving the batten end loose. You do not like that, especially when the sail is up and wind loaded.
The receptacle lid hold the batten tension adjuster in place. When taking a closer look at the lid design, I found some solutions that I believe is in the Mickey Mouse watch category. The front end of the lid, which can be heavily sideloaded, is secured only with two tiny plastic studs and the outer perimeter of a securing bolt.
On this lid, one of the two plastic studs have broken off. The lid itself has cracked as shown in the detail.
The lid securing bolt hardly covers the lid at all.
The above pictures of the mainsail squaretop batten receptacles are taken recently when we discovered the damage.. We have been sailing fairly brisk, but in no way unusual winds. Reaching in frequent 14-15 m/s (30 knots), one gust observed to 18 m/s (36 knots). One reef in the mainsail. Relatively flat seas. Should be no drama at all.
Disappointing that gear manufacturers are not delivering high quality merchandise. Knowledgeable sailmakers should demand the right stuff. And I will give feedback to my sailmaker about this.
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