Is it appropriate to leave the mast up when storing for the winter or do you bring it inside somewhere? I wonder about ice building up and putting stress on the rigging. Also would like to hear the pros and cons of shrink wrap. Some old timers tell me to just tarp the boat so it can breath.
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Ken Shubert
Preferences
Some people take the boats inside for the winter, which is ideal but..... I've left mine in "dry sail" all winter and just removed the sails with no damage showing. The rigging is strong enough to handle any ice and the only concern would be exteme winds which could tip it over. Most winters it just sits in the yard on the trailer with mast in travel position. Some say that shrink wrap traps moisture and tarps flap in the wind and cause abraision. A cover or building is ideal but I just put a coat of wax on and leave it outdoors. I plug the charger in once each month to top up the charge and, of course, remove all water and blow the line out. The trusty Tohatsu is stored in a nice warm garage. Some winters it's nice to have the boat in "dry sail" and ready for a nice January sail, but some years there's a foot of ice. Who knows? Ken S/V Wouff Hong
Some people take the boats inside for the winter, which is ideal but..... I've left mine in "dry sail" all winter and just removed the sails with no damage showing. The rigging is strong enough to handle any ice and the only concern would be exteme winds which could tip it over. Most winters it just sits in the yard on the trailer with mast in travel position. Some say that shrink wrap traps moisture and tarps flap in the wind and cause abraision. A cover or building is ideal but I just put a coat of wax on and leave it outdoors. I plug the charger in once each month to top up the charge and, of course, remove all water and blow the line out. The trusty Tohatsu is stored in a nice warm garage. Some winters it's nice to have the boat in "dry sail" and ready for a nice January sail, but some years there's a foot of ice. Who knows? Ken S/V Wouff Hong
Some things and something to think about.
If you can put the mast and rigging away during the winter that would seem to be the preferable thing to do. This way when the weather is nice you can just get a ladder out, crawl up in the cockpit with your ski jacket and stocking cap on, maybe some gloves and land sail. You could even get the portable TV/VCR out with a sailing video and put it in the companionway to really get the feel. Honestly, we have a friend with a power boat that has his shrink wrapped. They had problems with getting water in the boat without the wrapping. The water froze, causing minor problems. He did not mention any problems since he started the wrapping procedure. Now the guys on the gulf coast can pipe in and tell you to move to where it is warm so you do not need to do this. Of course they cann't sail most of the summer because it's too hot.
If you can put the mast and rigging away during the winter that would seem to be the preferable thing to do. This way when the weather is nice you can just get a ladder out, crawl up in the cockpit with your ski jacket and stocking cap on, maybe some gloves and land sail. You could even get the portable TV/VCR out with a sailing video and put it in the companionway to really get the feel. Honestly, we have a friend with a power boat that has his shrink wrapped. They had problems with getting water in the boat without the wrapping. The water froze, causing minor problems. He did not mention any problems since he started the wrapping procedure. Now the guys on the gulf coast can pipe in and tell you to move to where it is warm so you do not need to do this. Of course they cann't sail most of the summer because it's too hot.
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Greg Stebbins
Not me! I'm fried. But...
Mid 80's now though and looks like rain! We've been seriously considering moving to S/F or Baltimore. This kinda heat'll do that to you. But once the killer heat goes away, the other 9 months of sailing tends to make you forget till next time....
Mid 80's now though and looks like rain! We've been seriously considering moving to S/F or Baltimore. This kinda heat'll do that to you. But once the killer heat goes away, the other 9 months of sailing tends to make you forget till next time....
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Michael Stephens
First Winter
I should explain that this is my first boat and consequently my first winter. I have a place to store the boat on the trailer at a marina in Muskegon. The winters here can be tough and I'm just trying to come up with a game plan. It seems that the mast would be better off if left standing rather than lying down, or maybe I should take it home and find a place to store it there. I am thinking of getting tarps to prevent leaks near the companionway.
I should explain that this is my first boat and consequently my first winter. I have a place to store the boat on the trailer at a marina in Muskegon. The winters here can be tough and I'm just trying to come up with a game plan. It seems that the mast would be better off if left standing rather than lying down, or maybe I should take it home and find a place to store it there. I am thinking of getting tarps to prevent leaks near the companionway.
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Dave Oberholtzer
outside
one problem I had last winter was water freezing in the track around the lift up pop top then expanding and then melting into the cabin but beside that no problems leaving it outside Hydrotherapy
one problem I had last winter was water freezing in the track around the lift up pop top then expanding and then melting into the cabin but beside that no problems leaving it outside Hydrotherapy
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Ron Mehringer
Under Cover
IMHO it is best to drop the mast and tent the boat with a strong poly tarp. Last fall I learned from others here how to make "wagon bows" out of pvc pipe and then cover it with the tarp. I don't like the idea of leaving a boat exposed to the weather in climates where freezing occurs. Water has the ability to work its way into the smallest of cracks and then it exerts great pressure as it freezes. Repeat the cycle over and over, the result is damage. Final point, I think it was Crazy Dave who suggesd support the mast in the center to avoid bending damage from snow loads. If you want any more detail, feel free to email me at mehr@bellatlantic.net. Ron Mehringer (the other) Hydro-Therapy
IMHO it is best to drop the mast and tent the boat with a strong poly tarp. Last fall I learned from others here how to make "wagon bows" out of pvc pipe and then cover it with the tarp. I don't like the idea of leaving a boat exposed to the weather in climates where freezing occurs. Water has the ability to work its way into the smallest of cracks and then it exerts great pressure as it freezes. Repeat the cycle over and over, the result is damage. Final point, I think it was Crazy Dave who suggesd support the mast in the center to avoid bending damage from snow loads. If you want any more detail, feel free to email me at mehr@bellatlantic.net. Ron Mehringer (the other) Hydro-Therapy
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Ralph C. Regar
Shrink Wrap
I purchased my first sailboat in 1994. After shoveling snow and ice from the cockpit the first winter, I decided that the boat should be shrink wrapped. The winter weather in Southern Delaware runs from mild to severe, so I have chosen to be safe rather than sorry. I believe that shrink wrap, though expensive, is the best protection for a boat stored in a severe winter climate. (Bringing the boat inside can be REALLY expensive, but check on prices in your area.) Shrink wrap keeps snow and ice out of deck fittings and precludes the possibility of water entering the cabin. I agree with those who are concerned about the boat "breathing." The shrink wrap allows deck hatches to be left open and I use that moisture-absorbing product (I forget the name, but your boat yard will know it) in the cabin and have had no problem with mildew. Be sure to open the storage areas inside the boat to allow ventilation. Something important that I learned in the last five winters is that you need to find a place that knows how to shrink wrap a sailboat. It is not as easy as a powerboat, since they have to deal with the mast. I store my H260 on the trailer with the mast in the "travel" position. It provides a "tent" over the boat. As another respondent has suggested, you could also fabricate "hoops" to fit over the boat, which would make shrink wrapping easier. Be sure to have the boat yard put a zippered opening where you can get into the boat via the boarding ladder in order to check on it during the winter. If I can be of further help in this matter, please feel free to contact me. Ralph C. Regar S/V Shambala regars@juno.com
I purchased my first sailboat in 1994. After shoveling snow and ice from the cockpit the first winter, I decided that the boat should be shrink wrapped. The winter weather in Southern Delaware runs from mild to severe, so I have chosen to be safe rather than sorry. I believe that shrink wrap, though expensive, is the best protection for a boat stored in a severe winter climate. (Bringing the boat inside can be REALLY expensive, but check on prices in your area.) Shrink wrap keeps snow and ice out of deck fittings and precludes the possibility of water entering the cabin. I agree with those who are concerned about the boat "breathing." The shrink wrap allows deck hatches to be left open and I use that moisture-absorbing product (I forget the name, but your boat yard will know it) in the cabin and have had no problem with mildew. Be sure to open the storage areas inside the boat to allow ventilation. Something important that I learned in the last five winters is that you need to find a place that knows how to shrink wrap a sailboat. It is not as easy as a powerboat, since they have to deal with the mast. I store my H260 on the trailer with the mast in the "travel" position. It provides a "tent" over the boat. As another respondent has suggested, you could also fabricate "hoops" to fit over the boat, which would make shrink wrapping easier. Be sure to have the boat yard put a zippered opening where you can get into the boat via the boarding ladder in order to check on it during the winter. If I can be of further help in this matter, please feel free to contact me. Ralph C. Regar S/V Shambala regars@juno.com
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Michael Stephens
storage photos
Thanks for the input guys. Anyone have a picture of their boat tarped up for the winter?
Thanks for the input guys. Anyone have a picture of their boat tarped up for the winter?
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Harvey Small
Winter cover
One of the larger condominium sized power boats at our marina used to shrink wrap each winter. Now he uses a custom cover with a zipper door for winter access. I don't know where the financial break even point is, but with everyone saying how expensive shrink wrapping is, you might consider a custom cover.
One of the larger condominium sized power boats at our marina used to shrink wrap each winter. Now he uses a custom cover with a zipper door for winter access. I don't know where the financial break even point is, but with everyone saying how expensive shrink wrapping is, you might consider a custom cover.
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