Trimming Battens

Just a quick question.
What is the best method for trimming the jib battens to make them shorter?

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Marty
1984 H16 Yellow Nationals Redline, "Yellow Fever"
Lake Martin, 'Bama.

1st off, I use Trentec luff caps and Hobie leech caps on the main. I made a small miter box to hold the batten for a square cut with a hack saw. The Trentec caps need a square cut, but they are angled to fit the various batten pockets. For Length I'll slip them into place and give myself 2 1/2" from the eyelet of the sail for the leech end and cap it off. This seems to allow me to use the recommended batten tie length.
For the jib, my dealer sells soft plastic luff caps that hold well in the plastic batten pockets. If a tie does come loose they hold the batten in place and also help to avoid a poke thru situation.

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JKK
83 yellow/ white decks Hobie 14 Corando turbo
82 yellow hulls Hobie 16 Cat Fever
84 yellow hulls hobie 16 Yellow Nationals
plus a few extras that I'm restoring

Hack saw... short as possible and still get tension.

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Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

How do you keep the battens from splintering when cutting with a hack saw?

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Marty
1984 H16 Yellow Nationals Redline, "Yellow Fever"
Lake Martin, 'Bama.

Saw with less pressure. You might saw all the way around to create a groove / ring. Then saw smoothly. Using less pressure as you reach the far side.

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Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Okay thanks. I would imagine that once cut, I would probably want to smooth the edges with some sandpaper.

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Marty
1984 H16 Yellow Nationals Redline, "Yellow Fever"
Lake Martin, 'Bama.

Yes or a file to make sliding the cap on easier.

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Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Wait, the caps are removable? I figured I'd have to measure and cut the end that is opposite of the cap.

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Marty
1984 H16 Yellow Nationals Redline, "Yellow Fever"
Lake Martin, 'Bama.

Yes... This, of course, will make it far easier.

Remove the caps. Stuff the battens and then push each in with tension... mark leaving enough with-cap to do what you want... cut, install cap... go!

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Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Your caps may have been glued on by the PO. Best to leave them unglued and tie a stopper knot in the end so they can't get lost.

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Jerome Vaughan
Hobie 16

Thanks for all rhe help guys.

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Marty
1984 H16 Yellow Nationals Redline, "Yellow Fever"
Lake Martin, 'Bama.