This topic comes on now and then.

I just got a new boat this season. I am getting warm about storing the boat
with its mast up for the north-eastern Canadian winter. I am not all
convince yet that it a good thing to do. The radar was mounted on the mast
and the boat mast has two spreaders and in mast furling. When they
commissioned the boat, it took them 2-3 days to do so.

At this time, I do not know how long it will take me to get the mast down,
taking care of the spreaders look after the radar and prep the mast for
indoor storage in a very crowded spar shed. Maybe the wear and tear of
removing the mast, pushing it in an already overcrowded spar shed is more
than leaving the mast installed on the boat. In addition, in the spring at
launch I will have to tune the mast again and install the radar and
connections. Conversely, I have heard stories that leaving the mast on
during the winter may cause stress on the rigging and loosen the anchor
plates.

I would appreciate to get comments on this subject.

On Sat, 1 Sep 2007 17:29:56 -0300, wrote:

Conversely, I have heard stories that leaving the mast on
during the winter may cause stress on the rigging and loosen the anchor
plates.

I assume you mean chain plates.

Probably the biggest risk is having your boat capsized off of the jack
stands or cradle by strong winds. It is not common but it does
happen. It is especially risky on dirt which is more prone to be
softened or compacted over time as opposed to concrete or blacktop.

That said, I left the mast up on my old Cal-34 for many years with no
damage at all. It is best to replace the halyards with messenger
lines to avoid wear and UV damage.

wrote:

I just got a new boat this season. I am getting warm about storing the
boat with its mast up for the north-eastern Canadian winter. I am not all
convince yet that it a good thing to do.

SFWIW

Kept a 30 ft sloop on the South Shore of Lake Erie for many years

Every year, unstepped the mast and used it as a ridge pole for the canvas
used to cover the boat..

Used some construction grade lumber and some plywood to make supports for
the mast.

One was located in the cockpit, the other on the foredeck.

Used 3/8, 3 strand nylon to lash them in place, and an artifical turf mat
under the feet to protect the glass.

They went with the boat when I sold it.

YMMV


Lew

wrote in message
...
This topic comes on now and then.

I just got a new boat this season. I am getting warm about storing the
boat with its mast up for the north-eastern Canadian winter. I am not all
convince yet that it a good thing to do. The radar was mounted on the
mast and the boat mast has two spreaders and in mast furling. When they
commissioned the boat, it took them 2-3 days to do so.

At this time, I do not know how long it will take me to get the mast down,
taking care of the spreaders look after the radar and prep the mast for
indoor storage in a very crowded spar shed. Maybe the wear and tear of
removing the mast, pushing it in an already overcrowded spar shed is more
than leaving the mast installed on the boat. In addition, in the spring
at launch I will have to tune the mast again and install the radar and
connections. Conversely, I have heard stories that leaving the mast on
during the winter may cause stress on the rigging and loosen the anchor
plates.

I would appreciate to get comments on this subject.



The guy I crewed with gave up on taking his mast down each year, even though
he belonged to a club with all the equipment needed...such as a mast
crane/lift installed at the main dock and a big spar shed.
I guess he just didn't feel it was worth the trouble on his Mirage 33.
On smaller trailerable sailboats that mast makes a perfect 'ridge pole' to
support your tarps.

"Lew Hodgett" wrote:


SFWIW

Kept a 30 ft sloop on the South Shore of Lake Erie for many years

Every year, unstepped the mast and used it as a ridge pole for the canvas
used to cover the boat..

Used some construction grade lumber and some plywood to make supports for
the mast.

One was located in the cockpit, the other on the foredeck.

Used 3/8, 3 strand nylon to lash them in place, and an artifical turf mat
under the feet to protect the glass.

They went with the boat when I sold it.

YMMV


Forgot to mention:

Remove spreaders and store.

Place a plastic garbage bag over each end of mast and tape in place. Keeps
the birds out.

Coil each shroud loosely and hang from mast with duct tape.

When you put the tarp in place, hang 1 gallon jugs full of water on lashing
line to keep lashings taut.

(Old antifreeze jugs work well)

HTH

Lew

I would suggest asking your fellow boaters and boat yards in your neck of
the woods. There may be reasons to take your mast down, most folks leave
them up. If it was me, I would go with the majority of boaters. You could
also email your mast manufacture and get their input. Same with the radar
manufacture. Lastly if you leave the mast up, loosen your standing rigging,
say 5 turns and note so in your log book.


Stu








wrote in message
...
This topic comes on now and then.

I just got a new boat this season. I am getting warm about storing the
boat
with its mast up for the north-eastern Canadian winter. I am not all
convince yet that it a good thing to do. The radar was mounted on the
mast
and the boat mast has two spreaders and in mast furling. When they
commissioned the boat, it took them 2-3 days to do so.

At this time, I do not know how long it will take me to get the mast down,
taking care of the spreaders look after the radar and prep the mast for
indoor storage in a very crowded spar shed. Maybe the wear and tear of
removing the mast, pushing it in an already overcrowded spar shed is more
than leaving the mast installed on the boat. In addition, in the spring
at
launch I will have to tune the mast again and install the radar and
connections. Conversely, I have heard stories that leaving the mast on
during the winter may cause stress on the rigging and loosen the anchor
plates.

I would appreciate to get comments on this subject.

wrote in news:46d9cb4c$0$4044
:

I would appreciate to get comments on this subject.


Why not sail the boat South until you bump into something warm that suits
you for the winter, instead? A friend here in Charleston, SC, is getting
ready to sail his new Jenneau to Tortola he loves so much for the winter
as soon as the hurricane season is nearly over. Then, he can fly down
and enjoy his big toy when work permits. A very select group will also
be able to charter it from him when he's not playing with it, making a
substantial profit over expenses...not a bad idea at all!

No mast storage necessary....(c;


Larry
--
Search youtube for "Depleted Uranium"
The ultimate dirty bomb......

"Larry" wrote in message
...
snip...
A friend here in Charleston, SC, is getting
ready to sail his new Jenneau to Tortola he loves so much for the winter
as soon as the hurricane season is nearly over. Then, he can fly down
and enjoy his big toy when work permits.
snip...



mmmmmmm I am thinking of heading down to Roadtown, Tortola in November.
Cheapest flight from here is about $750.00 + taxes & fees.

Thanks, I meant chain plates. My boat has an 11 feet 3 inches beam, 6 feet
draft and 49 feet above the water mast.
The width of the steel cradle is 6 feet with 6 holding pads.
The question is how much will it take to capsize the boat on dry ground?
I do not know if this is entirely true, but some Marina in the US to not
allow boats to be stored with their mast up?
Also some insurance companies may want an extra premium?

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 1 Sep 2007 17:29:56 -0300, wrote:

Conversely, I have heard stories that leaving the mast on
during the winter may cause stress on the rigging and loosen the anchor
plates.

I assume you mean chain plates.

Probably the biggest risk is having your boat capsized off of the jack
stands or cradle by strong winds. It is not common but it does
happen. It is especially risky on dirt which is more prone to be
softened or compacted over time as opposed to concrete or blacktop.

That said, I left the mast up on my old Cal-34 for many years with no
damage at all. It is best to replace the halyards with messenger
lines to avoid wear and UV damage.

On Sun, 2 Sep 2007 07:37:20 -0300, wrote:

The question is how much will it take to capsize the boat on dry ground?

Obviously the answer to that depends on a lot of different factors but
I've never heard of any issues unless winds were above 40 to 50 kts.

I do not know if this is entirely true, but some Marina in the US to not
allow boats to be stored with their mast up?

That is most definitely true. One of my old salboat marinas would
only allow it on the concrete portion of their yard. Others, not at
all.

Also some insurance companies may want an extra premium?

Possible but I have not experienced that.