If I leave my mainsail rolled into the mast for the winter rather than take it down will that have any detrimental effects on the sail?
Leave Mainsail on boat for winter?
- Thread starter marcomondo
- Start date
- Status
review similiar thread just a week ago
here's the link (note they are much further south than you): http://www.sailboatowners.com/forums/pviewall.tpl?fno=441&uid=7325641115&SKU=2005300075255.66
here's the link (note they are much further south than you): http://www.sailboatowners.com/forums/pviewall.tpl?fno=441&uid=7325641115&SKU=2005300075255.66
take it down
Gut instinct tells me to take it down. No need to leave it in an outdoor environment, even when its rolled in the mast. It can get possibly wet, moldy, mildew, and exposed to the elements. My feeling is that everyting has a longer lifespan when taken off the boat, out of the elements, and stored properly.
Gut instinct tells me to take it down. No need to leave it in an outdoor environment, even when its rolled in the mast. It can get possibly wet, moldy, mildew, and exposed to the elements. My feeling is that everyting has a longer lifespan when taken off the boat, out of the elements, and stored properly.
I learned my lesson
I also have a furling main. Mine, however, furls immediately behind, rather than in the mast. Anyway, I have left it up for the winter for several years until last year. We had a nasty Fall/Winter storm that kicked up some brutal winds. I thought I had stowed the sail well taking several additional wraps. However, the wind managed to unfurl only a small bit which very quickly developed into an almost completely open main. Needless to say the sail got SHREDDED beyond any hoe of repair. I was planning on replacing the sail in a year or two anyway, but I would have much prefered to replace it out of want rather than need. From now on I take it down!
I also have a furling main. Mine, however, furls immediately behind, rather than in the mast. Anyway, I have left it up for the winter for several years until last year. We had a nasty Fall/Winter storm that kicked up some brutal winds. I thought I had stowed the sail well taking several additional wraps. However, the wind managed to unfurl only a small bit which very quickly developed into an almost completely open main. Needless to say the sail got SHREDDED beyond any hoe of repair. I was planning on replacing the sail in a year or two anyway, but I would have much prefered to replace it out of want rather than need. From now on I take it down!
??????????
Do you take your windshield wipers off your car when you aren't driving it? Do you remove the tires from your travel trailer when storing for the winter? Some people do both of these. Would I? Not on your life. Some people at the marina remove everything that is not permenantly installed each winter. I remove nothing but that which will be broken by a freeze and perishables. Storing the sails on the mast or in the cellar makes no difference. One could even venture that they will be better protected from vermine and fungi by being left hanging. Jim
Do you take your windshield wipers off your car when you aren't driving it? Do you remove the tires from your travel trailer when storing for the winter? Some people do both of these. Would I? Not on your life. Some people at the marina remove everything that is not permenantly installed each winter. I remove nothing but that which will be broken by a freeze and perishables. Storing the sails on the mast or in the cellar makes no difference. One could even venture that they will be better protected from vermine and fungi by being left hanging. Jim
Down the Hatch
Mike & Ernie are right. Take the battens out, fold it up, keep it in as dry a climate as possible. Swing halyards out around the spreaders so as not to drive folks nuts banging against the mast too.
Mike & Ernie are right. Take the battens out, fold it up, keep it in as dry a climate as possible. Swing halyards out around the spreaders so as not to drive folks nuts banging against the mast too.
- Status