question about mast storage

[Herb]

It is time to store my baby for the winter. I have covered storage that has a 20 foot ceiling. I would like to be able to work on the boat through the winter and so would like to be able to have a clutter free deck. Can you please tell me if this would work..... or simply put can you tell you tell me why I can't do this. I would like to hang the mast from the ceiling with three pulleys one on each end and one about 1/3 of the way up. My concern is that the mast was built to be vertically strong but would it warp or bend from spending three monthes hanging around horizonally.As many opions as possible would be helpfull even if you have never tried it. Thanks for your input.Herb S/V DayDream

 

[Dick of Sylvan]

Hang it!

What size boat is yours? Most of us with Cat 22's store them on top of our boats where they have suspension at both ends and about 1/3 the way up the mast on top the cabin where we set it when upright so what you propose sounds very similar. Probably the mast won't even know the difference if its of a small boat like ours. If you know Kurt Korthals there in Sitka, give him my regards. Dick K, UC forestry class of 1958

 

[Ed]

Better hanging out of the way

What you're proposing puts no more stress on the mast than having it sit between the mast supports while sitting on a trailer. You shouldn't have any problems hanging it from the ceiling. I have a smaller 16.5 with a 20 ft mast that sits on the trailer between a pair of supports (one front, one rear) all of the time except when I sail her.

 

[Chris]

Hang in there

Herb,The stress on the mast should be no different than when you store it on the boat. As long as you duplicate the storage on the boat that should be OK.