[Rhodes22-list] Winterization (Mast & Main Sail)

[DIANE RUSSELL]

This will be my first winter with "Fifty/Fifty" but for my previous boat, an 
O'Day 20, I used a piece of plastic lattice over the boom and covered the 
entire boat with a large tarp. I found that this method kept the snow from 
piling up and filling in the cockpit. It worked well. I leave the mast on 
top with padding only. I do think I should have a mast crutch next year, but 
my trip to launch and trip to haul don't seem enough to warrant it at 2.4 
miles each way.

I did want to say that when it was time to take the mast down I was very 
nervous. Had 7 of us and found out I really probably only needed 3. I was 
very shocked at the ease of taking it down.

Diane R.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Charles Henthorn" <rexh at sbcglobal.net>
To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2007 4:15 PM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Winterization (Mast & Main Sail)


> Steve:
>    I agree--the mere thought of the approach of winter puts me into a 
> state of deep depression.
>     In response to your question, I bought one of the recommended Defender 
> tarps last year, lowered the mast, draped the tarp over the entire boat 
> (with mast crutch in place) and learned why I don't want to winterize in 
> that fashion again.  Although it got through most of the winter -- a heavy 
> March snow followed by strong winds with the snow on the tarp caused the 
> entire tarp to split into two equal pieces all along the mast and damaged 
> one spreader when it collapsed.  Fortunately it was close enough to 
> spring---I removed the tarp pieces and waited without further incident.
>     Now I"m thinking of installing a tarp over the entire cockpit (leaving 
> the mast up and) using the boom and some supports from the boom to the 
> gunnels to support snow that doesn't slide down the tarp(s) for this 
> winter.  In addition, I plan on making an upright wooden boom support to 
> rest the boom on (relieving the top lift) to which I could attach some 
> kind of a jury-rigged support system  to the corners of the stern so the 
> tarp can cover the stern area too.
>    Assuming I proceed with this plan, I'd be interested of opinions of 
> Rhodies in the north ---Do I lower the boom to the bottom thereby reducing 
> the area snow can blow in around the mast but, in doing so, reduce the 
> angle from the boom to the gunnels making snow accumulate more or do I 
> leave the boom up so there is greater angle and the snow will slide off 
> easier?  If I don't fully enclose the entire cockpit, should I worry about 
> shading the cockpit so rain or melted snow entering the cockpit will 
> refreeze and block the scuppersr?
> Rex
>
> Steven Alm <stevenalm at gmail.com> wrote:
>  Ah, yes, my least favorite topic of all--winterization--because it marks 
> the
> end of the season. Sheldon, there's no reason not to leave the boat rigged
> if you have the place to do that but a tarp over the boom raises the age 
> old
> question--to tarp or not to tarp. First of all, the boom does not extend
> all the way to the transom so a tarp over the boom alone would not prevent
> snow from accumulating in the cockpit. Now, is that a bad thing? Bill
> Effros always said he never tarped his boat, never fogged his motor, never
> removed his battery, never blocked the trailer up off its wheels, nothing.
> I, on the other hand, here in Minnesota did all those things. Bill's
> testimonial notwithstanding, I can't help but think that the
> freezing/thawing/freezing/thawing could indeed cause some damage, 
> especially
> if it were in the bilge. What I've always done is to remove the mast 
> crutch
> and lower the mast down to the stern pulpit and use the mast as a roof
> ridge for the tarp. I put a couple PFDs under the mast on the cabin roof 
> to
> support it in the middle so it doesn't bend under the weight of the snow. 
> I
> remove the spreaders so they don't poke through the tarp. The tarp is big
> enough to cover the entire rig and I stitch the ends closed so it's just 
> as
> protected as a shrink wrap but not so air tight as to invite mold and
> mildew.
>
> Other northern Rhodies, please speak up. What do you do?
>
> Slim
>
> On 10/10/07, Green, Sheldon wrote:
>>
>> We are thinking about leaving the Main Sail in the (IMF) mast with the
>> mast fully rigged over the winter, rather then unstepping the mast. We
>> are planning to remove the Jib and store at home. "Another 1st" would
>> be up on blocks (on land). We would then throw a tarp over the boom to
>> cover the cockpit.
>>
>> Has anyone done this?
>> What are the associated issues?
>> What is the best practice?
>>
>> Sheldon
>>
>>
>> Sheldon & Robin Green
>> "Another 1st"
>>
>>
>> Sheldon & Robin Green
>> "Another 1st"
>>
>>
>>
>>
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