In case anyone is wondering...

[dlandersson]

In case anyone is wondering...battens do not float when they hit the water.

OTOH, magic eraser and scrubbing bubbles clean up recent gas stains on fiberglass pretty well.

[dive4it]

I had a batten fall out during a practice run in the driveway, thank goodness I wasn't on the water. I took a short piece of waxed thread and a heavy duty canvas needle and stuck it in my "save a sail" kit on board. The first time out I tacked my batten pockets shut so I wouldn't lose one. It worked really well and took five minutes to do the job.

JT

[Russ]

Nope. Haven't wondered. Learned that the same way.

The advise above seems a bit drastic. Stitching the batons in. Although it would work, one must have to cut the stitch every time you bag the main.
I believe others have found clever means of securing the batons. They sure need something as it's not fun to watch them ker-plunk to the deep.

[seahouse]

Interesting. The sailmaker seems to have responded to this issue (or maybe the batten maker). (OK - it could have been a QC issue too, but I doubt it after reading that some have been loose).

Mine were so tight to install that the elastic was pretty pointless because they bottomed out on the stitching of the slot. It was such a struggle to insert them (I actually stopped and made a tool specifically to make it easier to push - luckily I did it in my driveway ahead of time). I can't see them ever fallin' out no-how.

- B.

[dive4it]

I only did a single tack, one single stitch for each batton pocket. I don't remove my battons when I fold and roll my main into the bag so it's a non-issue.

JT

[FPLynah]

On my Lazer II, I electrical taped a 4" long, one inch wide velcro (loop) piece to the end of the batten. I sewed the hook length to the sail and never lost another one...Guess I do the same on my M.
FPL III