Posted by j32080 (j32080@…>)
The primary determinant as to whether or not you can store your boat
with the mast up is the rule(s) set by your storage marina. Some
allow “mast stepped”, others insist “mast unstepped”. Hauling
equipment and/or transportation issues (e.g., nearby power lines)
and/or [yard] insurance also influence the decision.
That said, you can certainly store the boat “mast up”. All
sailboats in my marina are stored “mast up”. I do on my boat (J/32)
as it is a lot easier on the rig considering that I have 2 stays, 6
shrouds and an expensive roller furler with foil. Along with re-
tuning the rig each spring. My yard has no place to store all of
these masts as well as the equipment to unstep a 50’ “stick”. On
the contrary, I know of a yard on Cape Cod that treats masts and
rigging with respect and properly secures them out of the weather
over the winter.
The F-21’s free standing mast is therefore simple in comparison
should you decide to unstep. I always unstepped the mast on “Blue
Merle” ($3.00/ft (mast length) each way (unstep/restep)) because I
used it as a “ridge pole” on top of the boat for the tarp. Besides,
there was always something that needed attention on the mast or mast
top.
True, a mast up does present more windage to the winter winds and
all halyards, etc. should be properly secured. You will also need
to minimize water from getting into the boat and causing damage due
to freezing. Just fill the keel sump with pink RV antifreeze.
Should you decide to unstep, I’ll elaborate on the “crutch”, etc.
that I built to support the mast longitudinally over the top of the
boat.
-John
— In freedom21@yahoogroups.com, “Peter Devlin” <devlin_peter@…>
wrote:
When the inevitable day comes that I have to take Graceful Rose
out of
the water, should I store her without the mast in place? Last
winter,
my first with her, I stored her shrink-wrapped from bow to stern,
and
the mast “un”-stepped on the ground nearby. This was primarily
because I had to run new VHF coax, replace the mast-head
light/wiring,
and install an anchor light. Now everything is in place, working
perfectly etc. It seems a bit of a shame to spend the money on
removing the mast for winter storage. Any compelling reasons not
to
leave the mast in place? Thanks.Peter