Winterizing with In-Mast Furling

kenvail

kenvail

.
Jan 29, 2010
64
Hunter 38 Ocean Gate, NJ
I'm approaching my first northeast winter with my new-to-me 2006 Hunter 38. It has a huge mainsail and I've seen others struggle every fall and spring manhandling the sail.

What are the downsides of leaving the sail in the mast all winter? There is only about an inch and a half exposure to the weather.

Comments? Opinions??
 
Don S/V ILLusion

Don S/V ILLusion

.
Sep 25, 2008
7,510
Alden 50 Sarasota, Florida
Most of my sailing buddies who live in New England do just that but they also have the local loft check and clean them every year as routine maintenance.

Consequently, the only real $ advantage it serves is to eliminate the annoying noise and wear on the furling drum which constantly moves in the mast.

The message I take from their choice to leave it in the mast is they claim no adverse effects.
 
Scott B

Scott B

.
Sep 20, 2006
2,952
Hunter 33 Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada
Depends I guess how much freezing weather you get. Some moisture will still get in there and freeze or not dry out.
I take mine out every year, doesn't take that long but you have 330 sq.ft. more of sail to handle. Most in our area take down each year to winterize.
 
Claude L.-Auger

Claude L.-Auger

.
Dec 14, 2003
1,442
Hunter 34 Lake of Two Mountains, QC, Can
Don S/V ILLusion said:
....to eliminate the annoying noise and wear on the furling drum which constantly moves in the mast.

Don, my buddies with in-mast furler remove the sail (yes it's cumbersome) but avoid the banging of the drum by attaching a rag tightly and pulling it up about mid-mast with the halyard. Of course they install a return line so they can get it back down easily.
Click to expand
 
Don S/V ILLusion

Don S/V ILLusion

.
Sep 25, 2008
7,510
Alden 50 Sarasota, Florida
Claude L.-Auger said:
Don, my buddies with in-mast furler remove the sail (yes it's cumbersome) but avoid the banging of the drum by attaching a rag tightly and pulling it up about mid-mast with the halyard. Of course they install a return line so they can get it back down easily.
Click to expand
I've seen some pretty ingenious ways of stabilizing the furling drum made from the ubiquitous closed cell pipe insulation.

On behalf of everyone, I urge those with empty furling drums to try some method to avoid the very annoying noise.

Although not very considerate way of conveying the message, I once saw someone next to such a boat take a can of expanding spray foam to the mast. Needless to say, the owner got the message albeit rather drastic.
 
C

capejt

.
May 17, 2004
276
Hunter 33_77-83 New London, CT
One year I decided to leave my "behind the mast" furling main up for the Winter. BIG mistake! We had a strong Winter storm and a very small area of the clew exposed. The wind managed to catch the clew and unfurl the sail resulting a big white set of streamers waving in the breeze. Lesson learned.
 
Scott B

Scott B

.
Sep 20, 2006
2,952
Hunter 33 Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada
Don S/V ILLusion said:
I've seen some pretty ingenious ways of stabilizing the furling drum made from the ubiquitous closed cell pipe insulation.

On behalf of everyone, I urge those with empty furling drums to try some method to avoid the very annoying noise.

Although not very considerate way of conveying the message, I once saw someone next to such a boat take a can of expanding spray foam to the mast. Needless to say, the owner got the message albeit rather drastic.
Click to expand

I know what you mean, although we only get it for a few weeks in fall then a few weeks in spring, but can be very annoying. Once it's on the hard, the boat tends not to sway as much .....
 
Jim Seamans

Jim Seamans

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Mar 21, 2004
2,175
Hunter 356 Cobb Island, MD
13 years later and have never pulled the main. Now the jib is another matter - it always comes down.....
 
seadaddler

seadaddler

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Dec 19, 2006
5,832
Hunter 36 Punta Gorda
Same

Only 2 years up north and never took the sail down and very secure in In-Mast
in the mast and very little chance unwrapping if secured properly and now living in Florida always in mast 24/7 all year.
Nick
 
J

JBboat

.
Dec 22, 2012
7
Hunter 380 Sandusky
kenvail said:
I'm approaching my first northeast winter with my new-to-me 2006 Hunter 38. It has a huge mainsail and I've seen others struggle every fall and spring manhandling the sail.

What are the downsides of leaving the sail in the mast all winter? There is only about an inch and a half exposure to the weather.

Comments? Opinions??
Click to expand
Just get one of your buddies, buy a 12 pack, have him help you, its not that big, I just took mine off by myself, always take it off!
 
R

Rick486

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Oct 1, 2007
1,865
Boston Whaler Super Sport Pt. Judith
Different ships, different square knots as they say. Wife and I took our main and jib off yesterday. Took about an hour. No big deal.
 
BrianH

BrianH

.
Feb 14, 2005
104
Hunter 44 LaSalle, MI
I left my main in the mast the first year I had my 44ac in 2005. After that, I took it off every year.

I also started pulling the halyards most of the way back into the mast to minimize how much of them were exposed. I used very thin but strong line to pull them back in the spring. This also reduced the possibility of halyard slap on the mast.
 
Rob38

Rob38

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Jan 22, 2008
31
Hunter 38 Severna Park MD
My hunter 38 2005 seems to do well with the main left furled all winter. I have verticle battens which makes removing and bending on an additional challenge. Just make sure the mast winch is in ratchet mode not in free mode. We're just north of annapolis and we do get our fair share of winter. BTW. I alwas take my jib off and store it after washing and occasional re-stitching.
 
SettleMeDown

SettleMeDown

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Jun 6, 2012
30
Beneteau 473 CT
Interesting, every yard in CT we have approached for winter storage requires all sails removed before hauling.
 
P

Patrik

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Apr 1, 2008
66
Hunter 356 Stockholm
Remove it if you want to have a fresh sail for several years. The sail is to expensive to leave on the boat during winter. We do it every year without any manor problems. It gives you a chance to lok it through and find minor things to repair. Keep it stored in a dry place and you will have a fresh sail for the next season.
 
seadaddler

seadaddler

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Dec 19, 2006
5,832
Hunter 36 Punta Gorda
Sail

I guess taking sail off in winter can't hurt and while at it you should grease the inmast where the black removable caps are.
Also I was told by a sail maker not to have the sail cleaned by a pro because
cleaning when really not needed removes all the good things of the sail,I did
ask a sailmaker to clean my sail and he said to just wash with fresh water.
Nick
 
A

artboas

.
Jun 1, 2009
1,852
Hunter 49 toronto
My humble opinion

kenvail said:
I'm approaching my first northeast winter with my new-to-me 2006 Hunter 38. It has a huge mainsail and I've seen others struggle every fall and spring manhandling the sail.

What are the downsides of leaving the sail in the mast all winter? There is only about an inch and a half exposure to the weather.

Comments? Opinions??
Click to expand
Other than laziness, there is no reason to leave your main on the mast during the winter.
Let's put it this way. It sure doesn't help the sail at all.
There are many ways to stabilize the furling rod.
Btw, I've seen people actually leave out their furling main & genoa.
On one boat, a huge wind blast hit, and unfurled the genoa half way before the whole mess started to rip to shreds.
The flapping was so violent, the boat was shuddering in its cradle.
I was surprised the rig didn't come down
 
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