Lowering mast for winter storage

[Taffy]

Hi,

The sailing season is slowing coming to and end here, and we have to start to think about winter storage.

The boat will be stored on the hard so I will take the mast down, but what is the general opinion about the the diaganols.

Do they need to be loosened before lowering the mast, or can they stay tensioned and just undo the verticals, while supporting the mast with a crane.

Looking forward to receiving some knowledgeable advice.

Taffy

 

[Brian M H23]

B&R

As I understand it, the diagonals on a B&R rig are actually used to pre-bend the mast to specifications before the mast is even installed on the boat! That is one advantage of the B&R - the prebend is separate from the verticals, so shroud tension can be adjusted without (significantly) changing the bend in the mast.

Often you can haul without removing the mast - have you inquired about this? Being a 2002 I can't imagine you are in need of any significant service that requires dropping the stick.

 

[Taffy]

Winter Freeze

Hi,

Thanks for your comment. Up here 63N the sea tends to freeze over from Decemeber to April so we have to take the boats out. A few leave their masts up but with the high winds and snow and ice loads I always feel more at ease if the mast is stepped over winter.
It is a good chance to check the mast over and I am sure our masts and rigging are in better order than most, although the annual loosening/tightening of the turnbuckles means they need to be replaced every few years.

It was minus 1c (30F)last night !

Taffy