Winter Storage With Mast

[Mike]

My boat this year for the first time is being stored with the mast up. I didn't touch the shrouds -- should they be loosened?

 

[David]

Mast Up

I store the boat with the mast up. and don't loosen the rig. I think that the rig and boat work as a unit if there is a strong wind on the hard. I try to check the jackstands frequently as I am not in a marina where they usually check weekly. The loose rig tends to work the hull and chainplates too much.I drop the mast every third year to check the rig.

 

[Henryv]

the temperature does it for you

Assuming that you are hauling the boat for the winter the changing temperature to some degree loosens the shrouds for you. The thermal expansion of aluminum is approximately double that of steel so that as the temperature drops the mast becomes shorter at twice the rate of the shrouds thereby reducing tension.

 

[John Revenboer]

Winter storage

I store my H260 with the Mast up and I do not loosen the rig. It works well and I have not had any problems.