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

[Ronald Lipton]

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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