For the first time in 40 years we're considering storing a boat - a J/32 on an 8 pad cradle - with the mast up. Any concerns or suggestions that we should consider? Thanks.
Mast up winter storage
- Thread starter Sailor Sue
- Start date
How exposed to the winds of Lake Erie? Here on the shores of Lake Ontario I would not leave the mast up for a several reasons, the effects of repeated and extended periods of high winds over 20k, the inability to inspect the mast each year before and after it comes down, and the ease of completing any maintenance or upgrades while the mast is 3 feet off the ground and horizontal.
Around here probably 80% store with mast up. Never seen any problems in our yard which uses 8 pad cradles. I’d definitely take any roller furling sails off before hauling, but for one year I wouldn’t worry about it otherwise.
We've stored ours mast up without issues the last several years. We were in Erie, Pa so had more protection from the lake winds there. We're now up in Port Huron doing the same thing this winter, but their storage area is pretty protected as well. I think you're better off on a cradle over stands as it's usually the ones on stands that manage to tip over.
Our sailing assoc stores mostly mast up on trailers. No stands here. Is there a way to interconnect the stands so they support each other and not slip?
They should be tied port to starboard with a chain. The stands often have a slot in the frame to hold a chain link.
Not Lake Erie, but south side of Lake Superior. Our marina has significant exposure to the lake and on the shore (minimal trees, no buildings per-se). 95%+ of folks store with masts up.
The majority of folks are storing on cradles, although a handful use jack stands. The marina typically places boats with the bow/stern pointing toward the predominant wind direction (usually storms are coming from the west) although I'm sure there is plenty of variability.
I am unaware of any boats that have fallen off of stands in the years that I have been at the marina, although there are stories of incidents in the past. I don't know how much the mast played into the problems in those cases.
The boats with jack stands typically run a chain interlocking the stands on opposite sides of the hull, keeping the stands from sliding apart. Storing on cradles is straight forward and doesn't usually require any extra configuration.
We get a decent bit of snow (about 150" last year). Most everyone covers their boat with canvas or shrink wrap. Sails, bimini's, and dodgers are almost always removed. The covers/shrink wrap use the boom for the back half of the boat, most folks add a support up front to tent the cover (I used a whisker pole supported by posts on my old Catalina 30, I have a set of 2x4's that slope from the mast down to the anchor roller on my current boat). We used shrink wrap in the Catalina, we purchased a boat cover when we upgraded vessels. Many folks build a support frame, depending on the cover type.
Most folks I know leave their halyards/lines up and on, although a few will pull temp lines up in order to avoid UV and weather exposure.
Doug
The majority of folks are storing on cradles, although a handful use jack stands. The marina typically places boats with the bow/stern pointing toward the predominant wind direction (usually storms are coming from the west) although I'm sure there is plenty of variability.
I am unaware of any boats that have fallen off of stands in the years that I have been at the marina, although there are stories of incidents in the past. I don't know how much the mast played into the problems in those cases.
The boats with jack stands typically run a chain interlocking the stands on opposite sides of the hull, keeping the stands from sliding apart. Storing on cradles is straight forward and doesn't usually require any extra configuration.
We get a decent bit of snow (about 150" last year). Most everyone covers their boat with canvas or shrink wrap. Sails, bimini's, and dodgers are almost always removed. The covers/shrink wrap use the boom for the back half of the boat, most folks add a support up front to tent the cover (I used a whisker pole supported by posts on my old Catalina 30, I have a set of 2x4's that slope from the mast down to the anchor roller on my current boat). We used shrink wrap in the Catalina, we purchased a boat cover when we upgraded vessels. Many folks build a support frame, depending on the cover type.
Most folks I know leave their halyards/lines up and on, although a few will pull temp lines up in order to avoid UV and weather exposure.
Doug
I have been storing my 32’ O’Day 322 outside with the mast up for ~10 years.
I am on Lake Michigan near Chicago…my marina uses stands. Yes, the stands are chained together so the don’t slip Out.
While I have seen a few boats blow over, it was usually in a tornado-like storm.
My marina doesn’t allow us to store cradles there…
Greg
I am on Lake Michigan near Chicago…my marina uses stands. Yes, the stands are chained together so the don’t slip Out.
While I have seen a few boats blow over, it was usually in a tornado-like storm.
My marina doesn’t allow us to store cradles there…
Greg
I store mast up on a six pad cradle routinely with no problems here in Chicago about a mile inland along the river. An eight pad cradle is even better. I store mast down only about every third or fourth year, or as needed, for maintenance projects and inspection.
Take the sails and all canvas off, replace your halyards with winter messenger lines, and protect the deck and cockpit from snow and ice accumulation. I have mine shrink wrapped.
I used to loosen the shrouds a couple turns to take some of the tension off the rig for half the year when everything shrinks in the cold, but my rigger told me was I wasting my time. The coefficient of expansion for the aluminum mast is twice that of the stainless steel standing rigging. So it’s kind of self relieving. Get it too loose and you risk added wear from excess movement.
Take the sails and all canvas off, replace your halyards with winter messenger lines, and protect the deck and cockpit from snow and ice accumulation. I have mine shrink wrapped.
I used to loosen the shrouds a couple turns to take some of the tension off the rig for half the year when everything shrinks in the cold, but my rigger told me was I wasting my time. The coefficient of expansion for the aluminum mast is twice that of the stainless steel standing rigging. So it’s kind of self relieving. Get it too loose and you risk added wear from excess movement.
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We have stored our boat on its cradle with a mast up and stripped of sails in Sandusky on western Lake Erie for 20 years now as do many others at our marina. We took it down last year for maintenance (changing lightbulbs, and a new Windex.)after 19 years. We don't cover the deck - snow and ice have little effect on fiberglass/gelcoat. We do exchange most of the wood on/around our companionway with rough pine substitutes. A prior owner substituted stainless grab rails on the cabin top for the original wood long ago. We don't change the tension on the shrouds - despite the differential shrinking of the aluminum mast, they are firm when we inspect the boat during the winter. We do offload all our portable cushions, fabric, books. etc. to protect them from mold over the winter.
I am not aware of any boats falling off their cradles or stands over that time. (Our relationship with the crew is such that we would probably know if it had happened.) Our marina is exposed to west and north winds off Sandusky Bay.
I am not aware of any boats falling off their cradles or stands over that time. (Our relationship with the crew is such that we would probably know if it had happened.) Our marina is exposed to west and north winds off Sandusky Bay.
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Thanks for all the responses. The consensus seems to be that lots of people store boats with the mast up, and generally with no ill-effects.
As mentioned, the boat is on a cradle, so no issues with jack stands.
We have a full Weathermax 80 cover which will need slight modifications for the shrouds.
We always remove sails and dodger so no change there.
We also always pull halyards to wash and inspect, but will need longer messengers this winter.
Masthead instruments will come off while boat is in the water.
I was curious about shroud tensions, but that doesn't seem to be an issue.
As mentioned, the boat is on a cradle, so no issues with jack stands.
We have a full Weathermax 80 cover which will need slight modifications for the shrouds.
We always remove sails and dodger so no change there.
We also always pull halyards to wash and inspect, but will need longer messengers this winter.
Masthead instruments will come off while boat is in the water.
I was curious about shroud tensions, but that doesn't seem to be an issue.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,812
Sounds like a solid plan.
just a thought. Winter is an excellent time to refit a mast that has served on the boat for more than 15plus years. Inspect remove service and reinstall all the fixtures. Light bulbs and hardware are much easier to service with the mast down.
just a thought. Winter is an excellent time to refit a mast that has served on the boat for more than 15plus years. Inspect remove service and reinstall all the fixtures. Light bulbs and hardware are much easier to service with the mast down.
Masts up here on the Chesapeake bay for most folks. But here's an interesting article on the subject with some interesting data:
End of season debate: mast up or down? - Soundings Online
End of season debate: mast up or down? - Soundings Online
8 Pad cradles are very secure and make it easy to bottom paint under the pads. For any other bottom work they are a royal PITA! But I'm not going back to jack stands.
