here's one for the equipment tips and settigs page.
On 5.8 aerotech wave sail 2006 model. as new condition. top batten screw not there, 2nd batten one loose about to fall out, 3rd not there. They were all there at the beginning of the session.
Sail was rigged with max + bit more down haul, giving a very loose leach in top 2 panels and slighly loose in the 3rd panel. i wouldn't normally run this much downhaul but it was blowing 25-30kts, and the sail handled quite well. however the leach did flap around quite a bit sometimes.
My thinking is the screws worked loose with all the flapping and rattling.
Has anyone encountered this with the aerotech or other sails. I am thinking of pushing wax into the end of the plastic bit to keep the screw in if they come loose again. New screws 0.40 each from local fixing shop.
thanks in advance
I don't reckon tensioners would work loose unless the battens weren't correctly tensioned. Not many people pay attention to it (especially the top battens), but incorrectly tensioned battens can make your sail feel like a complete pig.
Especially for new sails, its pretty important to check batten tension regularly as sails will stretch fairly significantly during initial use.
Yes I'd also say they fell out as they were loose.
At least you have the grey bit - really hard to find now as that system is not used anymore. The screw will be a standard thread stainless available anywhere liek fixings shops or marine places
Derek I just replaced all the screws in my aerotechs as the heads were rusting off. There is supposed to be a soft plastic gromet behind the threaded washer in the batten tensioner. I think these are supposed to hold the screw in and prevent it from rattling loose.
having replaced the screws in mine I found the new screws are somewhat looser in the tensioner than the old. I can't account for this.
I got new screws from the chandlery up at the Scarborough marina.
If you don't want your batten screws to come loose, chuck some Silicon dioxide 'anti-loose' in the thread before tightening..
(this amazing tip should have its own forum)
Lungs, I've had 2 Aerotech sails for several years, and have only lost one of the screws....... but I just got another one. Thanks for the heads up, I'll check it out 
thanks guys, I was given a heads up about checking them when first rigging a new sail by the seller and we did tighten them when we rigged it on my mast. But i would never have thought to check for loosness because of stretching, only noticed when I came in and saw wrinkles along the batten pocket.
i reckon I'd be screwed if i lost the plastic bit
but i had to lever it out/off with a screwdriver so hopefully not likely, however if i do lose it I know two locals with aerotechs where i can obtain spares from
the anti loose sounds better than the board wax i was planning on using.
will visit the shop tomorrow am as there is a 15 -20 knt se advertised for tomorrow
With the Aerotech batten tensioner you need to always look for wrinkles because the screws loosen over time. My friend and I always have to tighten screws on our Aerotechs and it is not because they were loose to begin with. Great sails though. Just keep an eye on the batten pocket for wrinkles.
