What are your thoughts for winter storage on the hard... Can the mast be left rigged in place, or should it be lowered? Thanks... Tom
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Bill O'Donovan
Up is okay
...as long as the hull is fully secured by the proper number of stanchions and the sails are removed.
...as long as the hull is fully secured by the proper number of stanchions and the sails are removed.
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Alan Liebnick
down is better
When on the hard and the mast is up there is tremendous amount of stress on the deck plates. The wind and elements can cause swaying of the mast however in a cradle or on poppets the boat is fixed in place and doesn't move. I believe that the trend of keeping the mast up on land has been the result of $. The yard doesn't charge for unsteppin and storing it. Plus you have an opportunity to inspect everything. However if the boat is bubbled in the water,obviously it doesn't make a difference.
When on the hard and the mast is up there is tremendous amount of stress on the deck plates. The wind and elements can cause swaying of the mast however in a cradle or on poppets the boat is fixed in place and doesn't move. I believe that the trend of keeping the mast up on land has been the result of $. The yard doesn't charge for unsteppin and storing it. Plus you have an opportunity to inspect everything. However if the boat is bubbled in the water,obviously it doesn't make a difference.
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Barry
down is best
Storing your boat on the hgard with the mast down is best. It provides you the opportunity to inspect the rigging at the spreaders and top of the stick without going aloft
Storing your boat on the hgard with the mast down is best. It provides you the opportunity to inspect the rigging at the spreaders and top of the stick without going aloft
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Rich Stidger
What does Hunter recommend?
I would be interested to know what Hunter has to say on this subject. I wonder if the answer varies with the height of the mast? I usually store in the water, but haul out every 3 years or so. I would be inclined to haul out every year except for the extremely high cost of storage and mast in/out.
I would be interested to know what Hunter has to say on this subject. I wonder if the answer varies with the height of the mast? I usually store in the water, but haul out every 3 years or so. I would be inclined to haul out every year except for the extremely high cost of storage and mast in/out.
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Ed Schenck
Up might be best because. . . .
it is much cheaper! Most yards DO charge, at least $100. but by the hour. For my cutter with keel-stepped mast and eleven stays/shrouds this is a big job. Then there's the threat of damage during removal/reinstall and in storing for the winter. The mast has to go on a rack that the marina uses. I'd guess that 75 percent of the boats in our marina leave the masts up. Despite that I will remove my rigging, in fact on Sept. 19. This will be my first good look at the wires, the sheaves, and the internal wiring. Mainly because I cannot go up the stick. Much will be replaced. It will make the boat much easier to cover for the winter. I will open up the chainplates and reseal. And it will be infinitely easier to paint the deck in the Spring. So there are advantages to pulling the mast, but NOT every year.
it is much cheaper! Most yards DO charge, at least $100. but by the hour. For my cutter with keel-stepped mast and eleven stays/shrouds this is a big job. Then there's the threat of damage during removal/reinstall and in storing for the winter. The mast has to go on a rack that the marina uses. I'd guess that 75 percent of the boats in our marina leave the masts up. Despite that I will remove my rigging, in fact on Sept. 19. This will be my first good look at the wires, the sheaves, and the internal wiring. Mainly because I cannot go up the stick. Much will be replaced. It will make the boat much easier to cover for the winter. I will open up the chainplates and reseal. And it will be infinitely easier to paint the deck in the Spring. So there are advantages to pulling the mast, but NOT every year.
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Chris
Every 3 years
we pull the mast, inpect all the rigging. This has worked for us for years without problem.
we pull the mast, inpect all the rigging. This has worked for us for years without problem.
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Tom
Hunter's comments...
This is posted with permission... Tom, We do not know of any problems associated with keeping a mast up over the winter whether on land or in the water. There should be no concerns of added stress on the boat due to leaving the mast up. Most yards will also strap a boat down as well when the mast is left up to minimize the chance of a boat blowing over, which we think is a good idea, because leaving the mast up while a boat is on hard certainly can increase chances of it falling over in a hard blow as opposed to one with the mast down. Also the cradle or how it is supported is very vital to how stable the boat will be while on hard. We highly recommend either Hunter or Hunter style cradles for support as opposed to just jack stands. I have seen many boats on the hard that I was afraid to walk around due to the way they were supported. I know most yards have their set procedures on how they will store a boat while it is out so I would question a yard as to what their plans were before hauling my boat so that I could "rest easy" while in my winter hibernation. One other point, if you do have your mast taken down over the winter, be sure that the yard seals off the area at the mast step to keep moisture out due to snow and rain. Thanks Greg Emerson Hunter Marine Corporation Customer Service Department
This is posted with permission... Tom, We do not know of any problems associated with keeping a mast up over the winter whether on land or in the water. There should be no concerns of added stress on the boat due to leaving the mast up. Most yards will also strap a boat down as well when the mast is left up to minimize the chance of a boat blowing over, which we think is a good idea, because leaving the mast up while a boat is on hard certainly can increase chances of it falling over in a hard blow as opposed to one with the mast down. Also the cradle or how it is supported is very vital to how stable the boat will be while on hard. We highly recommend either Hunter or Hunter style cradles for support as opposed to just jack stands. I have seen many boats on the hard that I was afraid to walk around due to the way they were supported. I know most yards have their set procedures on how they will store a boat while it is out so I would question a yard as to what their plans were before hauling my boat so that I could "rest easy" while in my winter hibernation. One other point, if you do have your mast taken down over the winter, be sure that the yard seals off the area at the mast step to keep moisture out due to snow and rain. Thanks Greg Emerson Hunter Marine Corporation Customer Service Department
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Julian Sandford
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Mark Mowery
Mast up for me
Stored our H33 mast down for 7 years. Our marina had only a shaky gin pole and we had to do the work ourselves. The process of stepping and unstepping the mast made up at least half of our work each spring and fall. It was very, very bad. Now the marina has a spiffy open ended Travelift, so we've stored mast up the last two years. We use the factory steel cradle, store the boom on deck, tightly secure all rigging, and slightly loosen the shrouds. Although a marina know-it-all told us we'd regret storing mast up, and likely find the boat laying on it's side, or find the cradle pads punched through the hull in the spring, we've had no problems so far. It does make covering the boat more challenging with the mast up, though.
Stored our H33 mast down for 7 years. Our marina had only a shaky gin pole and we had to do the work ourselves. The process of stepping and unstepping the mast made up at least half of our work each spring and fall. It was very, very bad. Now the marina has a spiffy open ended Travelift, so we've stored mast up the last two years. We use the factory steel cradle, store the boom on deck, tightly secure all rigging, and slightly loosen the shrouds. Although a marina know-it-all told us we'd regret storing mast up, and likely find the boat laying on it's side, or find the cradle pads punched through the hull in the spring, we've had no problems so far. It does make covering the boat more challenging with the mast up, though.
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