In Mast Furling Sail, Winter Storage?

[sigbear]

I'm sure people in Florida leave their sails intact all year long, and people living in the frigid north remove sails and lines for winter storage.

What about the boats in between like the Carolina's, Virginia, Tennessee etc. My question is for the in mast furling and roller furling jib, would you leave the sails and all lines intact for the winter in a mild climate, or remove and store them?

Sigbear

 

[jsalley]

I take mine off and store them at home. Gives me a chance to thoroughly inspect them. I found a seam that was starting to pull apart and needed to go to the sailmaker for repair after the second season, and that convinced me that unbending them is the right thing to do once a year. Also decreases exposure wear to the sacrificial covers on the jib and the corner of the main.

 

[kloudie1]

We get to inspect ours when a hurricane threatens .. usually at least once a year..

 

[Les]

I had a Hunter 380 with in mast furling as well as jib furling. Here in the northwest we sail year around. I only took my mainsail down once during the nine years I had the boat because of a recall on one of the connecting straps. It stayed in the mast except for when we went sailing.

When we sold the boat the surveyor notated that the sail looked in excellent shape, the same for the jib.

I think keeping the sail in the mast keeps them essentially dry and without wrinkles.

Les

 

[Barnacle Bill]

If you are in a situation where you are not going to use your mainsail for long periods of time (like winter), it is best to remove the sail, properly fold it and stow it. Leaving it rolled in the mast can harbor moisture and mold which can stain your sails, and degrade them. Plus sails that are rolled for long periods of time can form a "memory" of the sail cloth where a curve develops in the material. Take care of them and they will last a longer period of time.