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Winter storage

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Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Initially Posted - 12/28/2005 : 07:20:36

Hi all, I hope you all had a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukuh, or whatever you celebrate.

Anyway, I know this is about a month or two late, but better late than never. I'm wanting to put a big tarp over my boat to protect it from snow. The mast is down. The problem I've run into before is that the spreaders create a large area for the snow to accumulate when I want it to simply slide off.

Is there any reason why I couldn't remove the spreaders for the winter so that there is a considerable slope made by the tarp along the entire length of the boat? Then in the Spring time I would buy new cotter pins (or whatever they're called) and re-install the spreaders.

What do you think? Good idea, bad idea?

Thanks!

Ben
Beneteau 361
Viking Kitty
Columbus, Ohio

Edited by - on

Downbucket
Navigator

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USA
188 Posts

Response Posted - 12/28/2005 : 08:30:53

Ben:

I removed the spreaders and removed the mast from the boat to a different storage location. I do not see a problem.

Good luck.

Will

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Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 12/28/2005 : 09:48:43

Releasing the spreaders from their bases at the mast for the winter seems like a fine idea -- I see no problem. Next spring, remember to take advantage of having the mast down to do a rigging survey. You may not all consider yourselves master riggers, but a concerned owner taking a careful look is better than the most experienced rigger not looking at all!

And it's a lot less expensive.

-- Leon Sisson

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 12/28/2005 : 10:11:50

If you put rags over the spreader fittings, they will prevent the sharp edges of the spreader fittings from punching through the tarp. You should probably tie the rags on with a couple of pieces of string to make sure they stay in place.

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tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 12/28/2005 : 10:39:02

Ben, Leon, Steve,

I've never removed my spreaders but if I should ever I'd be concerned with the compression tubes within coming away from their working position. Is this a posibility and if so how would a person prevent this happening ?

Val on the hard DAGNABIT # 3936

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tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 12/28/2005 : 10:41:27

Sorry Will...an unintentional omission.

Val on the hard DAGNABIT # 3936

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Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 12/28/2005 : 11:00:03

Val,

We're not suggesting removing the spreader bases from the mast extrusion. We're talking about removing two large cotterpins (or long thin machine screws), and sliding the spreader bars out of the aluminum or SS bases. The compression tubes inside the mast are all supposed to be captured by either the spreader base bolts, or a pair of small screws in line with the spreader bars.

-- Leon Sisson

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 12/28/2005 : 11:05:33

When I removed my spreaders, I left the spreader bases bolted to the mast, and just pulled out the cotter pins that hold the spreaders in the spreader bases. That way, you don't disturb the compression tube inside the mast.

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Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 12/28/2005 : 11:46:51

Thanks everyone for the confirmation of my idea. I will definitely wrap all the sharp edges so they don't punch through the tarp. Remembering to examine the standing rigging is a good idea too. I suspect the most I'd be able to look for are "meat hooks" and other evidence of fraying cable, and where the cables terminate at each end. Any other things I should look for on the standing rigging?

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 12/28/2005 : 12:22:28

Since there is a bolt running through the compression fittings you should be okay. Removing the spreaders is easy and I do it every year. I would not remove the spreader brackets.

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djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 12/28/2005 : 14:06:57

You might want to switch over to the SS spreader sockets since you will have it all apart anyway. Cheers.

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.