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Because I'm only a recreational sailor, and am frustrated with the whole "jib hang up thing". (although the suggestions that replied to my previous post were helpful) I have a couple of possibly stupid questions.
What is the difference between a jib for a roller furler and a standard jib? Can I use my jib without battens. ( since I don't race and I don't adjust it any more than I have to since I sail alone 90% of the time) , I really only use it to help when I tack. In addition to that question, is it possible to add a roller furler, and use my current jib (without battens)? I live on the south shore, I usually come in on a reach, and have a very narrow space between my dock and my racks where I keep my 16 and 14. It is a lot easier to depower and get my 14 in the "sweet spot" between the two. With my 16, I have to wait for a lull, and even then sometimes I come in too hot and have to make several attempts. Right now, I unfasten my jib blocks and let the jib flap around. Since my sails are only two years old, I hate to have them flap around so much, and worry about breaking down the fabric...... spent waaaay too much money to let that happen. Seems like furling would be the way to go... I already have some threads that are fraying.... not sure if that's from the wild luffing, or the hang ups and Pushing the jib over.
I do realize that performance may suffer, but I own the only two Hobies on the lake, and doubt even with a lack of a perfectly shaped jib, that any of the sunfish or other misc monohulls could come close to my speed... or fun when flying a hull.
Thanks
Bob
I dont know if you can roll your jib on that axis but you can surely use it without the batons. Mine is missing several and although I've been trying to get some new ones for it, I sailed it a few times without them and it still worked pretty well. Sometimes it flapped around a little at the top though.
Since I don't have a furler yet, does anyone think that if I use a couple of battens at the top of the sail, before the point where it gets hung up, and leave the rest out.... would that help, or hurt performance?
Is there a difference in the "cut" of a furled jib, or is it because the pockets make it too "thick" to furl?
Thanks
Bob
1) Yes the jibs are cut differently.
2) The jib is made to be used with battens. If you sail it without them it will flutter and eventually beat itself to death. Since you previously indicated you wanted to take good care of your sails, I recommend against sailing without battens.
Just expect it to get hung up in light air. In medium air it shouldn't unless your battens are too long. If they are, trim them down so that when tensioned they just barely stick out of the pocket. 
When I was sailing without batons, the only part that flapped around was the top, so you might be ok to just put them there, but for the long run jamie has a good point, you should probably have them all. I remember reading in another post about some sort of hinge system you cna get form hobie to let the parts of the batons that stick out of the back to flew and make it around the mast more easily.
I currently have a roller furler on my 16 with the standard jib. It is coming off today! There is a noticable performance difference when you have the battens out, and I would say even a greater tendancy to pitchpole. Also, the luff flutters alot, and it really beats up your sail. You also lose the ability to adjust the tension of your rig using the jib halyard, since all this is removed. If you still want to try it out, you can find my setup on ebay sometime next week.