# Winter storage with Mast UP? **URL:** \ **Category:** General\ **Created:** [October 14, 2026, 5:10am UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/winter-storage-with-mast-up/10617 "2026-10-14T05:10:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Shirleycheung2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Shirleycheung2](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/Shirleycheung2)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2026, 5:10am UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/winter-storage-with-mast-up/10617/1 "2026-10-14T05:10:09Z")
Hello all, I am located in Lake Ontario, Canada and my local yacht club needs all masts to be taken down and stored in the racks for the winter. I did that this season and find the whole process very nuisance. I am exploring a marina to allow my boat to be stored on land on a steel frame cradle with MAST UP. They have a 50 tons travel lift. Does anybody have the mast up in outdoor storage for the winter? Any precaution I should consider? Really appreciate for any advice. Shirley Cheung N30C Whitby Yacht Club Ontario, Canada ---
**Author:** ![Aloki329](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/nonsuch.discourse.group/aloki329/32/812_2.png) [@Aloki329](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/Aloki329)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2026, 1:35pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/winter-storage-with-mast-up/10617/2 "2026-10-14T13:35:08Z")
Hiya - just my opinion and practice I follow. Take the mast and boom down out of the water for storage. While in the water any wind that would cause a vibration or undulation of the mast or boom is ‘absorbed’ by the hull being in the water. It gives. That energy is dissipated. On land that energy/motion is absorbed by the hull , in particular the mast joint at the deck and at the base. Often you’ll see spider cracks at the mast / deck joint which is the by product of movement while ashore. Not serious damage but damage non the less. I’ve seen some Nonsuch masts dancing in a strong wind when ashore. At very least while storing on land , lower the boom if you wish to leave the mast up. That will reduce a conflict vibration between the two items. Best , Gary ---
**Author:** ![Rob](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/nonsuch.discourse.group/rob/32/11_2.png) [@Rob](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/Rob)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2026, 2:55pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/winter-storage-with-mast-up/10617/3 "2026-10-14T14:55:50Z")
Hi Shirley, I store Soave on the hard with mast down. My first season I followed the yard’s recommendation and left the mast up. I visited the boat a couple times during windy conditions and could see the stresses on the mast and hull. The effort and expense of removing the mast provides opportunity to inspect and remediate little problems before they become big ones. As Gary mentions, if you leave the mast up, lower the wishbone, it is a big contributor to the stress and vibration. Sail on, Rob… ---
**Author:** ![Mizzenman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@Mizzenman](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/Mizzenman)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2026, 5:35pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/winter-storage-with-mast-up/10617/4 "2026-10-14T17:35:21Z")
Located in Raritan Bay, NY/NJ. My mast stays up, the boom comes down as does the sail that sits now on milk crates on the cabin top. I extend the stanchions to about 28” with plastic pipe then drape a cover over a ridgepole to cover everything. I use a smaller cover on the foredeck but allow lots of breeze. Hope this has been of help to you. ---
**Author:** ![briancayer](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/nonsuch.discourse.group/briancayer/32/46_2.png) [@briancayer](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/briancayer)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2026, 7:02pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/winter-storage-with-mast-up/10617/5 "2026-10-14T19:02:06Z")
Hi Shirley I have stored my Nonsuch 30U on hard with mast up for the past three years. I agree that it’s not the best practice, but it seems to be working OK for me. I remove all lines drop the sail and bring it home for storage. Then I drop the wish boom, support the front end on a 4 x 4, and the aft end on the cabin top with a nifty Gorilla 18” high X 36” long work step over the companion way and tie it all down. I have a Fairclough cover that I pay each season to remove and store and reinstall in the Fall. The winter’s here are mild and getting milder so we have not had any hard winds that you might experience up north. I have not seen any damage to the deck or mast for the past 3 seasons. Godspeed on finding your winter home and may the winds blow lightly. Brian ---
**Author:** ![GregSilver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@GregSilver](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/GregSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2026, 12:16am UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/winter-storage-with-mast-up/10617/6 "2026-10-15T00:16:35Z")
Hi Shirley, I strongly suggest you unstep your mast for winter storage ashore. Anybody looking will notice there is damage to the deck around the mast partners to any Nonsuch stored with mast up, over time that creates major structural issues and expensive repairs. What is not so noticeable is the fatiguing of the mast itself. When this happens the mast can snap off at the deck without warning, possibly while you are sailing as happened to a 30U in our club last year, or while stored ashore during a gale, as I saw results of in Green Turtle Key a few years ago. Unstepping a Nonsuch mast is far easier than most other sailboats, and the effort is, I think, part of the cost of owning these boats. Mine has been in our family for 43 years and the mast has been unstepped for every winter storage ashore. ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/nonsuch.discourse.group/foggy/32/549_2.png) [@Foggy](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2026, 1:05am UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/winter-storage-with-mast-up/10617/7 "2026-10-15T01:05:49Z")
Hi Shirley, I store my Nonsuch mast up, boom down on a cradle at Outer Harbour Marina in Toronto. Seems 3 or 4 other Nonsuch owners do likewise. Give them a call and I’m sure they will find a way to accommodate you for the lay-up season. ---
**Author:** ![Flashcat30](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/nonsuch.discourse.group/flashcat30/32/775_2.png) [@Flashcat30](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/Flashcat30)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2026, 1:33pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/winter-storage-with-mast-up/10617/8 "2026-10-15T13:33:11Z")
I will be storing my '88 NSU30 Flashcat 30 with mast up and wishbone down on the deck this year at the Mattapoisett Boatyard in Mattapoisett MA. I get the concerns from some of the old salts on this thread but don’t see them as something to be overly concerned about. Looks to be a personal decision to me with multiple opinions on both sides of the equation. One of our current prominent administrators in the Nonsuch Association is storing his Nonsuch with mast up this winter too, so your in good company. Be well, stay safe & may this approaching winter season past quickly without any major storms. ---
**Author:** ![Aloki329](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/nonsuch.discourse.group/aloki329/32/812_2.png) [@Aloki329](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/Aloki329)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2026, 10:19pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/winter-storage-with-mast-up/10617/9 "2026-10-15T22:19:40Z")
“Old” ? 😏 ---
**Author:** ![Flashcat30](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/nonsuch.discourse.group/flashcat30/32/775_2.png) [@Flashcat30](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/Flashcat30)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2026, 11:40pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/winter-storage-with-mast-up/10617/10 "2026-10-15T23:40:24Z")
“Old Salt” is a venerable expression, it doesn’t nessasararaly refer to someone’s physical age, more to their self proclaimed experience level. Sail on! ⚓ ---
**Author:** ![Aloki329](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/nonsuch.discourse.group/aloki329/32/812_2.png) [@Aloki329](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/Aloki329)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2026, 12:03am UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/winter-storage-with-mast-up/10617/11 "2026-10-16T00:03:36Z")
Twas a joke ! 🙃 ---
**Author:** ![Aloki329](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/nonsuch.discourse.group/aloki329/32/812_2.png) [@Aloki329](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/Aloki329)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2026, 12:37am UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/winter-storage-with-mast-up/10617/12 "2026-10-16T00:37:03Z")
Wait ‘self proclaimed ‘ ? 🤣