When we arranged for our winter storage, the manager of the marina suggested that we store with the mast up. What are the pros and cons of storing in this fashion?
Winter Storage
- Thread starter Jennifer Petticord
- Start date
- Status
The great advantage is avoiding the cost of
unstepping the mast. The advantage of having it down is that you get a chance to inspect the mast head without climbing. In our marina most boats spend the winter on the hard with their masts up. But with the limited storage area on the river side of the power lines some of the boats must drop the mast to be stored beyond the power lines. The other marinas in this area also store with the mast stepped.
unstepping the mast. The advantage of having it down is that you get a chance to inspect the mast head without climbing. In our marina most boats spend the winter on the hard with their masts up. But with the limited storage area on the river side of the power lines some of the boats must drop the mast to be stored beyond the power lines. The other marinas in this area also store with the mast stepped.
As Ross notes
unstepping, storing, and re-stepping a mast are expensive tasks at most marinas. Most of the marinas that require you to unstep your mast do so for safety reasons: a boat up on jackstands with its mast/rigging up creates much more windage than a boat stored with a mast down. If the choice is optional, and the area you are in is not known for high winter winds, storing with the mast up is probably preferable (but loosen up the shrouds/stays a bit). It's probably a good idea to unstep your mast in any event every 5 yrs or so and make an inspection of it.
unstepping, storing, and re-stepping a mast are expensive tasks at most marinas. Most of the marinas that require you to unstep your mast do so for safety reasons: a boat up on jackstands with its mast/rigging up creates much more windage than a boat stored with a mast down. If the choice is optional, and the area you are in is not known for high winter winds, storing with the mast up is probably preferable (but loosen up the shrouds/stays a bit). It's probably a good idea to unstep your mast in any event every 5 yrs or so and make an inspection of it.
- Status