I do not want to start an argument on the INA website, but I do not believe (despite the oft-expressed options of people whom I respect) that mast-up winter storage is a bad idea.
Many boats have cored hulls; many boats are stored with mast up, and MANY would have more trouble than Nonsuch if the dangers were real.
If you fear that the worries are real, then tighten topping lift to rear, and run halyard equivalents to either side to ground prevent mast wiggle ...
or run some small cord from the top of the mast to solid points on either side.
Too much damage is done, and too much time wasted, taking the boats apart and re-assembling them.
Now about "winter cover with the wishbone still up" :
I think that the sail can stay in place, and there should be very little to put away, and
a light polyester cover can be pulled from the back of the boom toward the mast over top of the wishbone.
The cover should have extra material at each end (topping lift, and mast) to reach around and close at front and rear.
It should tie down outside the lifelines to the bottom of the stanchions, and have a small skirt to lightly close to gaps at the bottom.
I don't know of a better way to inspect a mast then removing it. I've not done it in 3 years. This means you can carefully inspect the shoe and the all those other parts that attach to or join together for corrosion. However, my cost will be less then $325 to unstep and step the mast. Upon arrival at the yard, I will already have the wishbone down and all running rigging and wires out of the way. No additional storage charge for mast. To haul and launch will be $90 plus $10 per day storage. The nice thing is that I do most of the local boat moves for the yard and they give me credit that almost wipes out my yard bill.
Joe Valinoti
S/V IL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
I regret it if Nonsuchers believe I was trying to start an argument. That was not what I intended. It is none of my business how owners want to store their boats. My reasons for storing a mast off the boat is based on my experiences in Toronto conditions where there is little shelter from winter gales that seem to be becoming more violent over the years.
The 30 I mentioned that suffered delamination had a badly designed cradle. The forward uprights were angled in so it made contact at about a foot out from the centre line causing unnecessary stress which resulted in delamination. It also had a Volvo sail drive that has a gasket that is supposed to be renewed every five years or so. Water penetrated the hull core in this area. It was always stored with the mast in.
A few years ago there were a line of boats stored in an exposed marina here with their masts in. For some reason the cradles rested on cinder blocks. These gave way on the windward boat causing the whole line to fall like dominoes. It is a good idea to check what the cradles are resting on!
If I had to store with the mast in, I would try to find as sheltered a spot in the yard as possible and position her facing the most likely direction of gales. In addition, I would want to add a form connecting the uprights that fits the longitudinal shape of the hull to minimize the stress points on the hull. There is an 8 Meter here that has a cradle with this feature. As others have recommended, do put some tension on the mast to stop it whipping about.
The other hazard we have are mature trees that lose limbs in a gale. It is best to give them a wide berth. They can do a lot of damage regardless of whether the mast is in or out.
I hope everybody’s Nonsuch winters well so it is ready for an early spring launch without too much work required. Mascouche will be hauled out on the 8th of Oct. It is hard to predict when she will be launched next year. This year there was 2’ of ice in our lagoons which delayed launching until mid April.
Johns comment about using cinder or concrete blocks as a support is very relevent to storing boats. Lost of folks are in wheel chairs from heavy objects support by concrete blocks giving way on them. There are two issues, blocks get wet and freeze, then thaw and on and on then crack and disintegrate…soemtime it take one cycle sometimes more depends who lucky you are or not. Or they are subjected to a shock like being dropped or hit… the ensuing crack then causes the block to fail.
So if you wish to spend the rest of your days in a wheel chair, or for that matter end your days … use concrete blocks to hold up heavy stuff and then get under it…