Make perfect battens with this simple jig.
Cut the ends off of two popsicle sticks, and cut a small section from a third.
Glue the two lengths onto the edge of a piece of scrap wood, side by side, with a small space between them, enough for the thickness of the batten material.
The small length is glued at the end as shown. This forms a slot that you slide the plastic into.
Hold the plastic in place firmly, then use a thin sharp blade, like a single edge razor, lying it flat on the surface of one of the popsicle sticks.
Slide the blade along the plastic, scoring into the surface, it will take about three passes to cut all the way through. (If possible, secure the jig in a wood vice.)

Need some small clamps for glueing a craft project together? Try spring activates clothes pegs, to get extra gripping power, wrap an elastic band around the jaws.

A spool with loose line, and an open line snap, can create havoc when transporting your gear to and from the beach. An open snap will hook onto anything it can, towels, etc. and the line will tangle around everything at will. Its best to kept your spool its own bag, a plastic bread bag will do.
To keep your control line from unravelling, clip a rubber band onto the line snap then stretch the band over the barrel of the spool. When its time to sail, unclip the band and store the band around one of your spools handles.