[C320-list] What are the pros/cons of destepping the mast forwinter storage?

[David Cardoza]

I truck the boat home every year so I have to un-step.  I like having the
Boat in the back yard.  I have a shore power hookup and fair cloth cover and
can put a little heat in the boat when I want to get a head start on spring.
Besides it's cheaper than winter storage at a yard and I think I do a better
job on the bottom than the yard does.  I can also have a mechanic from the
regional Yanmar distributor go over the engine without having issues about
not using yard mechanics.  The cost is a little over 1k per year and
includes the crane to step and un-step.  The only negative I find is that
the hull does settle a little on blocks without the mast and stays up.  When
it first hits the water the stays seem short but after about 24 hrs fit just
fine.  I assume it's the whole keel supporting the boat on blocks / boat
supporting the keel on water thing. 

Another thing I remember about storing the mast down at the yard one year
was they charged extra to store the mast on top of the stepping fee.

See all you New Englanders at the Newport boat show.

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Tim
Sent: Monday, September 11, 2006 10:44 PM
To: C320 List
Subject: [C320-list] What are the pros/cons of destepping the mast forwinter
storage?

When I bought my boat last year hull #603, the mast was down and had to be
stepped at launching. No real issues but I had a minor problem with VHF
antenna and one of the stays was connected wrong to the chain plate. Now
that winter in approaching, I do have the option to store my boat either way
and was leaning towards leaving the mast intact. Let's here some pros and
cons from the group. For me, there is a cost savings but then it would be
good to take a good look at the mast while down. Also, I was considering
purchasing a cover for the winter and can have it made w/ or w/o the mast in
place. Does this cause the cover to leak a bit?
   
  Tim 

 			
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