Wooden Mast Winter Storage?

[swiseman]

Although not my first wooden boat, my wooden (strip planked)Rhodes 28'-6" has a 40' (!) mast, my first wooden mast, and is very intimidating to me! She is reported to sail like a witch yet very safe in Lake Michigan's heavy weather which can be quite dangerous .

Anyway, I have been restoring her since July and have not been able to tackle the mast yet. I plan on removing all hardware, stripping to bare wood, etc... Is it possible to store it on sawhorses and under plastic tarps over winter? We don't get rain beyond mid to late November (only snow) untill March. I know not to wrap it tight but make sure it's vented. Basically the tarp just drapped over, possibly held up above the mast and secured to the ground with filled plastic jugs. I've just been emailed by one Naval Architect in Maine who says it may develope a set and it should be stored indoors.

Any experience, suggestions, etc...

 

[Mirelle]

I would try not to store it unvarnished. i.e. don't strip it, then store it bare. Better to leave the old finish on.

It's perfectly normal to store wooden masts out of doors in the UK; most wooden boat yards have mast racks which are either along the side of a building and covered with a tarpaulin or are freestanding buildings with a roof but no sides. Either way the mast is supported at four or five points in its length.

So, four saw horses ought to do the job; just make sure they are level.

 

[Porthandbuoy]

Mine was stored outside for years. Simply turn it over every couple of months to avoid it taking on a set.

 

[ccscott49]

I agree with mirelle, a few saw horses and keep it out of the weather, should be fine. Better to leave old varnish on. Rigging will sort out any small deviations in the mast anyway!