Leave mast up for winter, or not?

[Tsam]

The last few years I have had the pleasure to leave my mast up over the winter in far north Minnesota where temps exceed 20 degrees below zero each winter.
I am capable of raising and lowering the masthead rig on a 22ft S2. I use a gin pole(the boom) with a pulley system giving me plenty of leverage.
Has anyone actually experienced negative effects over years of leaving the mast up over the winter?

 

[The Shadow Knows]

If mast & rigging are tuned,
I don't see a problem. Is your boat on the hard, that can cause some windage problems
but if secured properly in a wet slip, it should not.
Paying to step & re-step having no previous problems, I would knot pay out the cash!

Tuck your main below & you should be fine until spring............

 

[walt]

Also.. not likely a problem you have but make sure there is no trapped water. I saw once (might have been here) where someone had a catamaran with a sealed mast for flotation. Some water was trapped in the mast and they left the mast up. Water froze and busted the bottom of the mast.

 

[oldlaxer1]

If I had the option to do it myself (safely), I'd bring it down. In my case it is too costly because I have to pay someone to do it so I prepare the boat in other ways. I run messenger lines to replace the halyards to reduce unnecessary wear and weathering as well as reduce windage.

 

[31seahorse]

At our present location leaving the mast up is not an option due to the closed shape of the travel lift and the storage yard located across the road and beyond utility wires. Cost is an additional nuisance, but with the mast horizontal above the boat we can readily form a tent to protect the decks and cockpit. We plan to add a new wind indicator while the mast is down and we might change some lines. Word of caution: Birds and squirrels just love the hollow mast for nesting and chewing. Closing the end is necessary.

 

[sailnoproblem]

If I had the option to do it myself (safely), I'd bring it down. In my case it is too costly because I have to pay someone to do it so I prepare the boat in other ways. I run messenger lines to replace the halyards to reduce unnecessary wear and weathering as well as reduce windage.

I like your suggestion of messenger lines, never thought of that. I keep my boat in the water year round. I will use your suggestion this year. Thanks.

 

[DougM]

Many of the boats here in Michigan are stored with the mast up and covered. The boom is supported with a simple A frame and is used as a ridge pole for either a cover or shrink wrap.
The pitch of the tent type roof allows the snow to slide off rather than accumulate.

 

[oldlaxer1]

I like your suggestion of messenger lines, never thought of that. I keep my boat in the water year round. I will use your suggestion this year. Thanks.

Just make sure to keep the lines taut when pulling them so they don't slip out of the sheaves.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Suggest looking at standing rigging annually to ensure no broken lines with attention to the standing rigging going into the studs.