How bad is it to not pull my mast for storage?

[Noah]

Hi everybody,

I'm getting ready to haul and store my 1953 36' Hinckley Sloop. In years previous I have pulled the mast, but it's a $700 expense I would rather not have.

It's an aluminum mast roughly 42ft tall. Deck stepped with 3 shrouds per side.

The boat sits on a steel cradle with 4 pads per side, as well as front and rear stands.

So, am I going to damage the boat by not pulling the mast? I think the Shipyard will be able to put me in a spot without too much wind, but it will still get blown around some.

Thanks,

Noah

[uncas]

Noah...quick question...is your mast cabin stepped? ( like mine )....If it is...may cause a bit of trouble below decks...The pressure of the mast..once removed by demasting may put added stress on the frames...from a different direction...
When I took Uncas to a wooden boatyard in CT. those working there were surprised that my problems with the fastenings/seams were not directly related to the stree of the mast being cabin mounted...
A bit of rambling but you get the idea/concerns.
jamj

[Noah]

Actually I didn't quite follow that...

Are you saying that pulling the mast is harder on the frames, because it is deck stepped on the cabin top?

The mast fits on to it's step pretty tightly, and that transports the loads down to the keel through 2 verticle beams, which land on the mast step, which is a 5ft steel beam.

The shrouds still take all of the side loads, which would be born by the ribs, sheer clamp and deck beams.

[uncas]

Noah...If I read your comments correctly...you made my point...The release of the pressure caused by the presence of the mast may cause a bit of a problem below decks...as the ribs etc. are expecting a certain load...
Just my way of looking at it...If the pressure is released...then something has to give...
Does this make sense...? Always been a thought for me when I take my mast out but looking at the amount of varnish I have to do makes me do so...
jamj

[Figment]

I dunno about it being good or bad for the hull structure, but it's certainly in the best interest of the rig to unstep for the winter.
All the wind energy that the rig imparts to the hull is easily dissipated when afloat, not so easily dissipated when on a cradle, ya know? That rig and hull are going to do a lot of wiggling in a blow.

Are you still trying to sell the boat? If so, having the spar easily inspectable at ground level may ease a buyer's mind a bit.

$16/ft is pretty steep, so I understand your hesitation, but I really do think that unstepping is the right thing to do.

[uncas]

$16.00/foot...What are you doing...taking it to Hinckley...On second thought...no...That company would charge $20.00/foot.
Good luck
jamj

[Noah]

They raised their rates this year. The $17 per ft includes unstep, step and indoor mast storage.

[uncas]

Noah...what is the charge for leaving your mast outside? As it is aluminum...I'm wondering where you feel it really needs to be inside. ( except to protect the rigging )
Hinckley....last year...charged me approx. 17/foot to demast and take out and approx. $400.00 to keep it inside. Not counting the refit in the spring...
Made no real difference as they placed it a knee height and the high tides left mud all over it.
Another bone of contention...
I only wanted it inside to protect some of the varnish...Really did not want to start fron scratch with twelve coats.NOT counting sanding...
jamj

[Dave Hadfield]

I don't think it matters very much. But one thing you don't want is to have the shrouds fully tensioned as the planks dry and seperate. It's better to de-tune the rig if you leave it up -- just back off the turnbuckles a turn or three.

In the spring you have to be willing to go all the way up in a bosun's chair to service the masthead (replace rusty shackles, lay on some paint, whatever).

Drake hasn't had the main pulled in 3 years. I just go up and inspect/maintain it every year.

[ssor]

I have never, in six years, have pulled my aluminum mast for the winter. Should I decide to do so I would hire a truck mounted crane from a sign company for $150 and lay the mast on the boat and cover it for the winter. Support the stick on trestles if you feel the need but aluminum doesn't take a "set" from being supported at only two or three points

[Noah]

I'm still on the fence on this one.

On the one hand I would love to pull the mast, and I have no doubt that it is better for the boat.

On the other hand, I hate to spend $700 that will take away from some other job that needs to be done on the boat.

I talked to the yard manager and he said that the boat would probably take longer to swell in the spring if I leave the stick up.

What do all those folks in Maine do?

[Bruce Hooke]

I worked in a boatyard one spring up in Maine, and it was a boatyard that took care of a lot of wooden boats, and I do not remember seeing ANY boats where the mast was left up for the winter. Maybe this is just the way that yard operated, but it sure seemed like it was standard procedure up in Maine to pull the mast.

[Alan D. Hyde]

Well, Bruce & Noah, it IS one more thing that the yard can charge for... :D

Alan

Here are some boats hauled for the winter in NZ---

http://www.dyc.org.nz/gifs/Haulage3.jpg

[ 11-01-2005, 11:47 AM: Message edited by: Alan D. Hyde ]

[imported_Jimmy]

The only good reasons to pull the mast that I can think of are to cover the boat more effectively and if you have a wooden mast to inspect and varnish it. Unless you are expecting hurricanes (and I guess some people are) I wouldn't worry about leaving it up. When the boat is in the water you can run sails up it and lever the boat over 45 degrees, a little wind shouldn't bother it. Weather will have a much bigger effect on shrinking and swelling (can the mast have any effect?). I say leave it on unles you are going to use it as a ridge pole for a cover as someone else suggested.

[Ken Hutchins]

I've been thinking about this a bit, I would think that it would be ok left in, so long as has already been stated, relax the tension on the rig. Now the wind problem knowing how the wind comes across that lake, do make sure it is somewhat protected from the wind and carefuly inspect the cradle, if you find a possible defect in the cradle inform the yard in writing about the problem with a request that they fix it.

[Stephen Hutchins]

I've seen very large Hinckley's with their masts left on over the winter at Southwest Harbor. There was no aparent damage I could see come spring.