Winterize roller furling jib, or leave up?

[Capt. Kermie]

Tis better to be Safe than Sorry....

I'm surprised no one suggested a "sleeve" over the sail. Really, just a long tube of fabric, it is hoisted by another halyard so it encloses the rolled sail like a sheath.

Not the greatest idea, I know because I have done just that. Rather than get a UV strip for each headsail I opted for a sumbrella sleave to cover which ever headsail I had on the furler at the time and I hoisted it up with a small diameter halyard. It works fine during season and is very convenient, but after checking on the boat a few times this winter it became apparent that the headsail and sock needed to come down. It created too much windage and I noticed that the cleavis pin holding the forestay turnbuckle to the bow was constantly working its' way out and I feared a failure so off it all came and it is now stored below. It is not that big a deal to switch sails with a Shaefer system that uses the external halyard, very much like hank-ons, only takes a few minutes and provides peace of mind. Every year there are a few headsails ripped to shreads in the marina I slip at and I don't want mine to be one of them, no sense in learning the hard way, it is simply easier to take it down. Don't listen to the naysayers who gamble and leave their headsails to chance, be safe and take it down.

 

[higgs]

Leaving the jib up seems like a great idea until a problem arises and then you will wish you had taken it down.

 

[John Nantz]

Remove jib & protect halyard + swivel

Of course every area of the country is different, but here the weather from mid October until at least January is very wet and cold. From January until about mid February it changes to very cold and wet. From mid February until the end of April it is wet and cold. May to July it is very cool and often wet. Hence, my plan:

No later than October 15 or 20, remove the main and the jib.

Run all the halyards (main, jib with swivel attached, and spinaker) and toping lift to the top of the mast with 1/4-inch lines attached and tether them off to something on the deck. Cover all the lines from the base of the mast to where they enter the spray hood to protect them from the elements. This also protects them from becoming all green.

Put large tarp over coachroof and cockpit. Keeps inside dry and prevents deterioration of varnished teak on hatch, protects helm, and protects winches and sheet stoppers from elements.

Wrap the furler swivel in plastic to keep the crud out and protect the bearings from the elements.

The sail are stored in the garage until sometime in the spring when we strategize what the weather outlook is and our plans for bottom painting, cruising, etc. The Admiral doesn't like it cold and wet and a happy Admiral makes for a happy captain. Well, most of the time anyway.

One year, worst case, the sails didn't get on until after July 4th. This day will go down in infamy. Very unhappy captain.

Important points: protect sails, protect halyards and topping lift, protect halyard swivel (expensive to replace, and a lot of work). Balance with utility.

Everybody's approach is different but that's our modus operandi and rational. Hope this helps.