Making a Standard Batten Pocket for a Mainsail

In this video tutorial, we’ll be showing you how to make a standard batten pocket. This is our recommended method for making all standard batten pockets and can be replicated for your particular mainsail with great results. This step-by-step video demonstration will show you in detail how to sew a batten pocket to your sail. This style of batten pocket is a popular technique because it is easy to make and effective for boats of around 25 feet or smaller. From patterning the pocket to installing the batten, this video will walk you through all the steps in the process. Let’s get started.

The first step is to measure the length of the batten. For this sail we’ll be using Recmar Plastream Sail Battens. We recommend these battens because they are unbreakable and made from ABS Cycolac^® plastic. They are the most popular battens used in the sailing community worldwide. Plastream Sail Battens are easy to cut and file to the perfect size. Unlike fiberglass battens, these Recmar battens will not splinter your fingers or your sails and do not require end caps.

Once you have your battens measured, you need to determine the length of the Dacron tape for the pocket. You’ll take your batten length, double it, and then add 4 inches. This is the length you need to cut your Dacron tape for the batten pocket. Next, you’ll hem the tape and sew the hems down with zigzag stitches. You’ll add the elastic sling at the pocket fold to accommodate the batten, then baste the pocket to your sail and sew it in place.

We’re using the Sailrite^® Professional 4-Point Sewing Machine and sewing one row of 4-point zigzag stitches. You do not need to have a 4-point zigzag sewing machine to sew your batten pockets. The 2-point zigzag of the Sailrite^® Ultrafeed^® LSZ Walking Foot Sewing Machine will also work perfectly in the construction of batten pockets and general sail construction.

Follow along with our video tutorial to see how to construct and sew a batten pocket onto your mainsail. You’ll discover how easy it is to sew batten pockets for your mainsail with our detailed demonstration. Let us know if you have any other questions. We’re happy to help!