Inmast furling - vertical battens for ZSPAR mast

[sfh]

Hello 

We have a Jeanneau 53 with a ZSPAR mast with furling mainsail

This would be our first change of sail and I want to use the opportunity to increase the main sail area by adding vertical sail battens to the new sail if it can work with our current mast.

Have anyone gone down this route before us with a ZSPAR mast?

Your experiences?

Kind regards
Steen

[moonshadow]

I’m looking at a similar choice with my 469. What did you decide? How do you like it?

[sfh]

Moonshadow,

I have had comprehensive discussions with both Northsails and Elvstrom in Denmark.

Two different opinions:

1. Northsail was of the opinion that I can use vertical battens but they recommended to use battens made from carbon. The argument is that the thicker standard would have difficulties in getting through the 16.5mm opening in the mast and might eventual block

2. Elvstrom had a different explanation. The main problem with the ZSPAR mast is that the furler inside the mast is loose and different from the SELDEN mast where the furler is tight. Furling would not pose any problem but unfurling a ZSPAR might block when you pull the sail as the furler will be drawn slightly towards the opening and a vertical batten will then block in the opening.

I had a comprehensive discussion with Soeren Hansen from Elvstrom about this. Very clear and to the point explanations and recommendations.

I ordered a new genoa and main two weeks ago with a delivery first week in July. Shipped from DK to our boat in Greece.

Decision is to go with HydraNet RADIAL. HNR 433 for the main and 393 for the genoa.
Elvstrom is including short and flexible batten and with the design I get 52.5m2 instead of the standard 49.5m2 on the main 

Genoa will be cut slightly higher as performance would be better on open courses and improve vision. Further trimming would be easier. The genoa will include compensators that allow for furling to 50% without loosing performance.

Elvstrom also shared detailed technical PDF files for the rig that I have not received from Jeanneau. Great service...


Steen   

[Spritz]

I would have discouraged you to enlarge the area of your main if is furled in ZSpar 
I have heard too many with problems.
said that 3 square meters I hope will not cause problems.
in my experience, battens and unfurling ZSpar Mast are not really “friends”.
i have them in my SELDEN inmast but there is a huge difference between the two systems.

[dslittle]

Nov 12, 2019 17:12:04 GMT sfh said:

Hello 

We have a Jeanneau 53 with a ZSPAR mast with furling mainsail

This would be our first change of sail and I want to use the opportunity to increase the main sail area by adding vertical sail battens to the new sail if it can work with our current mast.

Have anyone gone down this route before us with a ZSPAR mast?

Your experiences?

Kind regards
Steen

We have a Z Spar in mast furler and have vertical battens in our main. It was supplied by Kemp Sails about five years ago and we’ve never had any problems with it (shouldn’t really have said that, next time we go out!!!)

[saltymetals]

I have the 43ds and the old French original sails were really tired and out of shape.


I had new Main and new genoa made for me by Banks Sails, Bari which is dyneema and polyester threads sandwiched in a polyester cross-cut material. The main has 5 full length vertical battens and then between each batten there is a shorter one on the leech.


In terms of sail area (old sails in brackets) i now have a 41  (34) sq m main and a 55 (54) sq m genoa.  The genoa also has a foam luff which was not included on the original French sail. Good tricks to avoid jamming in the slot are 1) only have just enough halyard tension on the main, not too much, and 2) move the stopper on the boom back to half or a little over half on the length of the boom. This gives a more horizontal pull on the main.    

[johannes]

FWIW, I've seen several Jeanneaus with the original Z-Spar mast and vertical battens, but I don't know any details or how well it works.