Should the rig be de-tuned for the winter

[Disailor]

Many thanks, folks. She is in a sheltered place with tall bldgs /trees all around. I'll leave it as is then.
DC

[Minggat]

Must say that I disagree with what I read here. Only as far as dry storage as opposed to winter in water storage.

Sitting on your keel is not the same as the hull being supported by water.

Found this out when I didn’t slack off my rigging before being set down. I could see the hull was pulled in by the excessive tension. I got up and released some tension, then asked a rigger. He agreed.

[George DuBose]

My response is, don't leave the mast standing at all when the boat is on land. Cyclic loading on the stays, water freezing inside the swages, more risk to the boat being blown over. Skylark winters in the water or the mast is removed.

[AKA-None]

Mast down for the winter allows me to closely examine everything each spring

[Mike OReilly]

I think dropping the the masts on smaller boats (or smaller masts) is a no-brainer. But as the size and mass increases, so too does the challenge and risk. Bringing down a large or heavy mast is not the same as dropping a small mast, and it is not something to be done lightly.

I say this with direct experience of both owning lighter vs heavier masts. And also having been part of the team to unstep/step perhaps hundreds of masts. It's clear to me that the heavier the mast, the greater the risk.

My current view is that a mast is generally safer in its proper place. But I also think it is also wise to bring it down every few years for a full inspection.

[Minggat]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

I think dropping the the masts on smaller boats (or smaller masts) is a no-brainer. But as the size and mass increases, so too does the challenge and risk. Bringing down a large or heavy mast is not the same as dropping a small mast, and it is not something to be done lightly.

I say this with direct experience of both owning lighter vs heavier masts. And also having been part of the team to unstep/step perhaps hundreds of masts. It's clear to me that the heavier the mast, the greater the risk.

My current view is that a mast is generally safer in its proper place. But I also think it is also wise to bring it down every few years for a full inspection.

I agree. The OP has a 31 ft boat. I would think that bringing the mast down might be a touch extreme for that sized boat. But de-tuning the rigging was the original question.

Most people (including me) don't de-tune the rigging when they do a haulout. That doesn't make it a good idea. But if you happen to remember, especially for storage, it's a good practice.

Minggat has some interior wood joints that separated and have never closed the gap again, because of sitting on her keel for 2 years dry storage in Mexico. Point is, hulls can flex. That flexing can stress things like rigging.

[Blazim]

Check with the folks over at front Street for the best information on this. They’ve got some great shops and Very knowledgeable staff. Great boat yard!

[Thom Hounsell]

do boats down south sitting in the water yr round loosen their rigs ,,no

Floating absorbs all the push of winds. On land, only the hull is doing that. So, not a valid comparison.

[DeValency]

Originally Posted by Disailor

1st time my 33 Morgan OI is on the hard for the winter (Maine, USA) with the mast standing. My question is should I loosen the shroud/stay rigging screws? & by how much?

I would only loosen a bit the forestays. The others must stay tight, you don’t want a shaking mast at any time and especially not on the hard during the winter storms in the northeast.

[Cheechako]

For a 50 degree change in temp, your rig will change in the ballpark of 1/16" for every 10 feet of length.
So a 50 ft rigging wire may get shorter when going from 70 degrees to 20 degrees by 5/16" of an inch.
But remember, your aluminum mast will be getting shorter at the same time also.
Aluminum is effected about twice as much by temperature, so if anything, your rig is going to get very loose on it's own!
So I wouldn't worry about it.