It was briefly discussed last year, but I wondered if anyone has more to add to the topic this year. I am not sure if the damage is greater to gear if the mast is left up for winter, or pulled.
Can anyone offer some wisdom?
Thanks,
Ed Collis
ORION VII
Toronto
You should consider the stresses to the hull too. The winter storms in Toronto cause stress to the hull where it is in contact with the cradle. When in the water, the hull movement reduces stress. Are you planning to haul the boat or leave it in the water? Do you like inspecting and servicing the mast by being hauled up it?
John Newell
Mascouche 26c 1
Toronto
I pull my mast every year now. I’ve been on board with the mast up when it was blowing and did not like the way the whole boat vibrated when the wind blew. Seemed better to me to avoid the stress on the boat and pull the mast.
Leaving the boat in the water is crutial that you have ice eaters or bubblers to keep the ice off the hull when the weather gets bad. I do live on a dock with liveaboards.
Also crutial that the power is available for these units to provide sevice to keep the ice clear in bad conditions when cold weather happens; or perhaps, an automatic generator when the power goes out on the grid…on Lake Ontario.
I was in the water late this year as the rules were changed as my boat is a heavy displacement boat…30’ (Nonsuch)…ment a lauch by the travel lift by appointment only when other boats were cleared. I was buried too deep in the yard to get out early.
Launch dates are earlier,.maybe next year too.
Perhaps dates are going to get earlier launches all the time and we can sail earlier due to global warming. Who knows..
I havent checked the savings at my yard but would love to save the de-rigging/rigging as loss of stuff during storage that happens.
Lost my new mast head lens and fortunatly made a deal for a new one for half price.
I don’t think an insurance claim can be made for such a small thing but I have replaced the nav lights with LED’s.
I would have to remove them to make sure they are ready for the spring.
I have unstepped and restepped the mast so far and it is a pain. Time to leave the boat in and drop the boom and tarp up for the winter…
Any thoughts on this?
Thanks
I vote for mast down, for a number of reasons:
Avoidance of unnecessary wear and tear on the mast whenever there is any wind at all.
Avoidance of unnecessary wear and tear on the BOAT which is “on the HARD” and unable to dampen the movement of the mast.
Ability to thoroughly inspect and repair any problems easily.
(Reference to earlier postings on this subject will show MANY other reasons.)
This is more important, perhaps, for salt water boats because undiagnosed salt water corrosion left unchecked can cause major rigging problems.
Allen Ames
I pull the mast every year, but realize that it may be a financial
decision for some. I store at my yacht club, which has its own travel-
lift capable of unstepping/stepping masts. We don't charge for that
or for storing the mast, so the cost is not a factor. But besides the
numerous reasons already mentioned to take the mast down is this: Many
boats that leave their masts stepped for several years find that it
can be very difficult to pull the mast when necessary because of
corrosion bonding. There have been stories about boats being lifted
by their mast when the crane tried to pull the mast out.
Bill Spencer - LIONHEART, NS30U 352 Hyde Park, NY
The amount of movement of the mast, when on the hard, during the winter/early spring, is incredible. Go down to your marina some windy day and observe for yourself. I always had my mast unstepped. Besides the stress already mentioned in other replies, it gives you a chance to clean the mast and to check all the ‘bolts and screws’ before stepping it in the spring.
Wayne
former owner of BIBIS V
Talk to the owners of a row of old fashioned boats (with lots of strings) that wintered at the outer Harbour Marina a few winters ago with their masts up. The windward one was blown over in a winter storm and the rest went down like dominoes. I believe part of the problem was that the cradles were on blocks (cinder?)
J. Newell
Toronto
Thanks everyone;
The consensus seems to be…“Mast down”.
Enjoy summer everyone. Winter is fast approaching.
Ed Collis
ORION VII Toronto
Not to belabor this discussion since Ed seems satisfied with his answer, but does this approach apply everywhere? I’m new to my Nonsuch but the folks in my marine here on the Chesapeake Bay all appear to leave masts up on the hard over winter. Might there be regional differences?
Ko
S/V Little Wing
Deale MD
Ko:
I think there are regional differences. Toronto is undoubtedly a very different story. Some yards in New England will not store a boat on the hard with the mast up. I have always suspected that at least part of their reason is that so many of the yards there are in small harbors with older picturesque/historical expensive residences right across the street (think halyard chimes…loud, and all Winter long).
In Annapolis, no one pulls a mast unless repair work is to be done. I pulled mine 3 years ago to work on it, but have not done so other years. My marina is pretty sheltered from wind, and I have not noted any vibrations in the hull or even the rigging with the boom raised higher up to clear the cover. I recognize the disadvantage of not doing an annual inspection, and don’t have a good answer for that.
The other factor is that yards here are not accustomed to pulling Nonsuch masts. I was billed for eleven man-hours. I objected, and since then have not had the yard do anything I can avoid having them do. I have twice moved the boat 2 1/2 hours to Galesville to get work done.
Joe Tierney Allegro 1992 NS33 #64 Annapolis, MD
Joe:
11 man hours? Seems pirates never really died out they just opened boat yards. My yard drops the mast in about ten minutes with three guys. I do drop the wishbone on deck myself.
I know it’s a long distance for some but Spring Cove Marina in Solomons, MD has taken care of dealing with three Nonsuch 22 masts and boat hauling and launching. Although our boats are smaller than most the procedure is probably the same. Never did they come close to charging that kind of man hours. The Yard Manager is Alan Richards. He is a super nice guy and very knowledgeable with our Nonsuch boats. There are two Nonsuch 30’s in the area and they may be willing to offer some input on who they deal with.
Take care!.
Butch Garren
Nonsuch 22 #30 Whiskers
Solomons, MD
Yep, eleven hours. That included re-stepping it in the Spring, but I had it all prepped and did all the wiring myself.
They are used to customers who don’t check the balance in their checking accounts before writing checks for 4-5 figure amounts.
“Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.”
No…I won’t identify them.
Joe T.
It is also undoubtedly easier on rigging if the boat is left in the water for the winter as it will rock in the wind. I tie the aft end of the boom to the aft cleats using light hi- tech lines tied with bowlines and remove the sail, all running rigging, and all canvas. I have left the (AMG) batteries on board with a solar panel to trickle them.
I have the boat hauled in August so that I can clean the bottom, clear hard growth from the propeller, paint, etc. Sailing is pretty poor here on the Chesapeake in August, and the yards will short-haul for A LOT less than they charge in the Fall or Spring.
I have not had problems with water in the hull, ice, etc. Not sure if I’m lucky or clever so far.
FWIW,
Scott Paist
PiuMosso
NS-30 C #197
Rock Hall, MD
Scott,
You are the second person I’ve talked to in our region who pulls the boat in summer to do some quick work while the winds are poor and leaves it in for winter. I think I’d like to try this. Folks in the marina say they got no ice last winter (but that was a likely anomaly). When they do get ice, it hasn’t been a problem, even without bubblers.
I’ve got a few jobs I could get done while on the hard and it woud be good to do some of them before my new full enclosure is finished mid-September. Much to ponder.
Ko
S/V Little Wing
NS 30U #403
Deale, MD