Tape covered battens SC15 main????

[gahamby]

Are the battens in a SC 15 main supposed to be entirely covered in black electrical tape? Please advise GH.

I checked the manual, I searched, no reference. What's the deal?

[Matt Haberman]

What type of battens, flat or tapered tubes?

If they are the flat kind it may have been done to protect the sails from the fiberglass. This was not done at the factory, but It was a common practice by a lot of guys. Black electrical tape & duct tape would be my last two choices for doing this because of the glue residue thou.

[gahamby]

Matt, thanks for the reply.
These are the tapered tube battens. The tape job is very nice, but it's tape. Sooner or later I am going to get black residue leaching through what is otherwise a new condition 1982 sail. Unless somebody chimes in to say otherwise, I think I'll strip it off and wipe down the battens w/ mineral spirits. GH

[Matt Haberman]

I would agree, there is no reason for tape on the tubular battens.....

I would suggest using laquor thinner or acetone instead of mineral spirits. Mineral spirits will leave some oil residue that can stain the sail cloth.

[gahamby]

That was the biggest pain in the a$$ of the whole refit. All day, half a dozen Scotch Bright pads, and 1/2 gallon of lacquer thinner. The battens underneath were perfect. A couple of the ends came off but they glued back on easy enough. I can't figure why someone would do that. The tape wad was the size of a duck pin ball.