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

[DIANE RUSSELL]

Ron,

We do the raising and lowering out of water in the parling lot of the town 
marina and usually end up with an audience also. So we feel like we have to 
put on a good show!  So far it has ruined our marriage.

Diane
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ronald Lipton" <rlipton at earthlink.net>
To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2007 9:36 AM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Winterization (Mast & Main Sail)


> The lattice idea sounds great - much easier than my construction.
> I bought the mast crane manual this year - Stan threw in the hardware
> as well.  It really is a great relief.  My wife helped me for the first
> time.
> The neighboring powerboater audience gave us rave reviews.  Not
> a single word in anger.  Where else can you find a product that raises
> masts and saves marrages?
>
>
> Ron
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "DIANE RUSSELL" <mamaruss5 at verizon.net>
> To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2007 10:25 PM
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Winterization (Mast & Main Sail)
>
>
>> 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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