What percentage of our fellow Nonsuch owners take their mast off every year?
Mine was left on for at least the past three years by the seller when the boat was on the hard, everything still works. However, the sail has mud skid marks that need to be cleaned when it is taken off and cleaned by North Sails this fall.
I will be leaving my mast on this year, probably taking it off after next season, not sure yet. I have read that people should be careful about the experience of any given yard with the Nonsuch mast, especially when it is put back on. How do you know if the yard has the proper experience? That makes me nervous, especially since everything is working well now, including all the lights.
And there’s this, the Appanog Marina’s Manger told me that almost none of her customers take their mast off for winter storage.
Thanks in advance for your comments.
Dan Dudley, Flashcat 30 NSU30 984129
Appanog Marina, Warwick RI
Dan: Send me a photo of your mast where it goes into the shoe and I can tell you if it is currently installed correctly. If so, then we know how it should be when you pull it next time.
Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
Hi Dan,
I have been caretaker of my 30 C for 22 years now, and the mast has come down every winter, usual October until May up here. I had the boat at a small, family marina for 15 years, the Marina owner and I, both in our seventies, and an excellent crane, had no problem removing and re-stepping the mast each year.
Now, I’m in my eighties and because of the previous Marina owners retirement, have my boat at a larger, more ‘up to date’ Marina. We have a small crew who pop my mast out and into storage in about 30 minutes, start to finish. Re-stepping is equally efficient and speedy. I guess it comes down to knowing the routine and having a team that know how to implement the routine. It’s not such a big deal if you have everything ready and people who understand how to do the job. Planning ahead is the key.
Alan Steward
30C #144 MagnifiCat
Loyalist Cove Marina,
Bath Ontario
Seems to depend on two things: where you are and what equipment is used to haul/launch boats. On Lake Ontario most, certainly not all, masts are pulled for the winter. At our club we do not have a travel lift and hire huge cranes to do all the boats over a weekend. With cranes it would slow and difficult to haul with masts in. We have a mast crane and members pull their own masts with the help of whoever is in the vicinity. Systems works well and a Nonsuch mast is easier and faster than an ‘old-fashioned’ mast with stays. Something over 200 masts are done each fall and spring.
Thanks for your help and advice, the majority seem to remove the mast one way or another. I will speak with the marina manager today and see what she has to say about the yards past experience with the Nonsuch system. It does seem prudent to remove it to make sure everything is functioning properly and reduce stress on the mast seating area.
On a related note, has anyone ever described/posted best practices for mast unstepping process (i.e. using a small crane)?
Last year was my first year owning Liberty (NS30U) and I relied upon the help from someone that provides a stepping/unstepping services at our club. The calm and efficiency with which he prepared the mast for unstepping was awe-inspiring, but hard to retain for a DIY process. He has clearly been unstepping many masts, which also raises the question how many more he’d be able to assist with…
As much of my research suggests that storing mast-up, especially in harsher (Canadian) climates is not a great idea, I’m hoping to develop greater self-sufficiency (and enough confidence to help others at our club).
It seems that setting up the appropriate mast harness in light of the weight-pivot is key. Though, there are likely many got-yas that deserve great attention to detail.
Would welcome any and all input - if not already available, will consider capturing the steps and share a version with the INA audience.
Oleg Popovsky
30U #309 Liberty
Ashbridge’s Bay Yacht Club
Toronto, Ontario
Seems to depend on two things: where you are and what equipment is used to haul/launch boats. On Lake Ontario most, certainly not all, masts are pulled for the winter. At our club we do not have a travel lift and hire huge cranes to do all the boats over a weekend. With cranes it would slow and difficult to haul with masts in. We have a mast crane and members pull their own masts with the help of whoever is in the vicinity. Systems works well and a Nonsuch mast is easier and faster than an ‘old-fashioned’ mast with stays. Something over 200 masts are done each fall and spring. – You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups “INA Nonsuch Discussion Group” group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to . To view this discussion on the web visit .
I always have the mast taking down each year. I did keep it up a few years ago when I was sewing a new Sailpack sail cover and wanted to take measurements over the winter. I could feel the vibration running through the boat with the mast up as compared when it was unstepped.
Good advice on mast removal/re-installation appears in the New Nonsuch Owners’ Quick Guide, which you can find on the www.Nonsuch.org website by clicking on the MEMBERS tab and selecting MANUALS. It’s easily spotted among the original manuals for our boats.
– Bob
Me Gusta
Nonsuch e26U #233
Marina del Rey, California
Hi all. I take my mast down every year. The Nonsuch manual that I have recommends it. I also talked with Mike Quill about it and he thinks it should come down. If it remains stepped on the hard, it places stresses on the foredeck. Unstepping also allows an annual inspection without climbing the mast!
Bill
Bonheur
Nonsuch 30C #40
Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON (SCBC)
Decided to have the mast removed with the Apponaug Marina Service. They say that they have lots of experience with the Nonsuch mast system.
Thanks for your input Bob!
Disconnect the turnbuckle, loosen the mast step bolts, tape with five different color tapes both mast wires and the step connecting wires for easy connection in the future. I had used paper tags, but they come off when raising the mast thru the deck. Regards, Bob Horne. 1989 N26C #249, ENCORE, Pocasset, MA.
