nac
Well-Known Member
do you think it is better to leave your mast up or drop it during the winter layup. does it damqage the rigging or not .what are the pros and cons
masts up or down
- Thread starter nac
- Start date
ShipsWoofy
Well-Known Member
There are no sensible arguments to leave the mast up at all.
Why take the boat out?
Why take the boat out?
DaveS
Well-Known Member
In my view, if the boat is laid up out of the water for the winter the mast should come down. Many marinas (including mine) insist upon this - for good reason. The only advantage of leaving it up is the saving of effort and cost. Against this consider the downsides. Strong winds will certainly shake the rigging and age it. More seriously, the force generated by strong wind on the rig should not be underestimated. A couple of months ago there were pictures of a whole series of laid up boats in the south of England which had been blown over: all had been left with their masts up.
And if the mast is down it is much easier to maintain mast top fittings, etc. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
And if the mast is down it is much easier to maintain mast top fittings, etc. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
simonfraser
Well-Known Member
leave it up and in, u seen the forecast for today ? 
) east coast
) east coastjerryat
Well-Known Member
Take it down. As others have said, why take the boat out otherwise? Makes working on the mast a doddle so you'll KNOW everything will work next season!
Having seen the boats blown over in Plymouth and elsewhere, nothing would tempt me to leave the stick up!
Having seen the boats blown over in Plymouth and elsewhere, nothing would tempt me to leave the stick up!
doug748
Well-Known Member
I used to take my mast down every season, which on a smaller boat was not such a trauma; and as I could do it myself, using tackles etc, cost nowt. Now I have a bigger boat and a keel stepped mast ,it is not so clear cut. In taking the mast out I have sustained damage to the masthead (twice) and had to go up the mast to clear grease from crane cables. Damage to the deck has also been narrowly avoided. It is a matter then of fine judgement: Deck or keel stepped mast + a hoist with adequate vertical lift + shelter in storage site + need to do work on the mast + experience of yard with your type/size of rig + type of boat support used. Mine pobably comes down every three years. Brian
yoda
Well-Known Member
Do you service the engine every year? Surely the main engine in a sailing boat deserves the same treatment? The only exception is if you can conduct the servicing with it up, easy for me with mast steps but for others not quite so easy.
Yoda
Yoda
Boathook
Well-Known Member
I leave mine up. It's cheaper and being a cat the boat would struggle to blow over when ashore.
Frangipani
Active Member
Even if the boat doesn't blow over, high stresses can be put through a hull as it leans against the props in a gale. My boat was taken ashore by a marina a few years ago and left with its mast up ( I was away at the time otherwise would have put them right). They chocked her up hard, and the stresses induced by a week of gales cracked 6 frames.
Clyde_Wanderer
Well-Known Member
I would agree with the others and say take it down, as they say it also gives you a chance to check everything up there where you wont most likely be too often during the sailing season.
My mast is 36.5ft long and a hell of a weight, which I am sure would exert a fair leverage during a srtong blow if left up, also dont forget while the boat is in the water a strong blow will be obsorbed by the boats rocking motion, reducing the stresses actually imparted on the mast and rigging, whereas out of the water the mast and rigging is taking it all and transferring it through the hull.
dont tempt faith, Get it down.
My mast is 36.5ft long and a hell of a weight, which I am sure would exert a fair leverage during a srtong blow if left up, also dont forget while the boat is in the water a strong blow will be obsorbed by the boats rocking motion, reducing the stresses actually imparted on the mast and rigging, whereas out of the water the mast and rigging is taking it all and transferring it through the hull.
dont tempt faith, Get it down.
Koeketiene
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
The only advantage of leaving it up is the saving of effort and cost.
[/ QUOTE ]
That's good enough for me.
Then again, as others have said, why take her out? Boats sail badly on the hard.
The only advantage of leaving it up is the saving of effort and cost.
[/ QUOTE ]
That's good enough for me.
Then again, as others have said, why take her out? Boats sail badly on the hard.
Seagreen
Well-Known Member
I'd always take the mast down if craned out.
Now, I've a wood boat which is best left soaking in salt water all year round, so craning out is only done evey few years.
If you want to leave the mast up, ok, take the risk, but NEVER leave the mast up if your boat is a fin keeler, propped with only logs and wedges, or (god help you) oil drums - use a purpose made cradle or cross braced wood props so it can stand the vibration from the mast in a strong wind. Hull vibration induced by the mast is very strong and can easily shake out wedges from props.
If you are a bilge keeler, this is not such an issue. Secure propping and wedging of bilge keels make the hulls a lot more stable and resist the tendency to fall over, but beware of stressing the hull around the keels.
Now, I've a wood boat which is best left soaking in salt water all year round, so craning out is only done evey few years.
If you want to leave the mast up, ok, take the risk, but NEVER leave the mast up if your boat is a fin keeler, propped with only logs and wedges, or (god help you) oil drums - use a purpose made cradle or cross braced wood props so it can stand the vibration from the mast in a strong wind. Hull vibration induced by the mast is very strong and can easily shake out wedges from props.
If you are a bilge keeler, this is not such an issue. Secure propping and wedging of bilge keels make the hulls a lot more stable and resist the tendency to fall over, but beware of stressing the hull around the keels.
longjohnsadler
Well-Known Member
I think it depends on your situation.
Most replies seem to be from people who keep their boats in yards and assume that most things are easy/optional add-ons.
My 'lift out' for a 34 foot boat is via a trailer and a tractor towing it up a slip. A crane to drop the mast would be a special trip from over 20 miles away and about 600 euro extra to drop and the same to re-step unless I could tie it in with something or somebody else, not always likely.
If there was little cost difference I would drop it - but it's staying up this winter.
Most replies seem to be from people who keep their boats in yards and assume that most things are easy/optional add-ons.
My 'lift out' for a 34 foot boat is via a trailer and a tractor towing it up a slip. A crane to drop the mast would be a special trip from over 20 miles away and about 600 euro extra to drop and the same to re-step unless I could tie it in with something or somebody else, not always likely.
If there was little cost difference I would drop it - but it's staying up this winter.
ShipsWoofy
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Most replies seem to be from people who keep their boats in yards and assume that most things are easy/optional add-ons.
[/ QUOTE ]
I did not read that in the originators question, but well picked up from his scant information.
Most replies seem to be from people who keep their boats in yards and assume that most things are easy/optional add-ons.
[/ QUOTE ]
I did not read that in the originators question, but well picked up from his scant information.
