Guide
Quick answer: storing the rig over winter
For most boats hauled out for the season, the safest approach is to unstep the mast, store it horizontally with support every few metres so it cannot sag or bow, and keep standing and running rigging and sails dry, labelled and off the ground. The hull, meanwhile, sits on side stands and keel supports sized to its weight.
Leaving the mast stepped through winter is possible on some boats, but it loads the hull and stands with extra windage and weight and complicates covering, so many yards prefer it down. The key risks to manage are sagging or point-loading a horizontal spar, corrosion and chafe in fittings and rigging, and damp or mildew in stored sails.
This guide walks through each part of the rig. For the hull side of the same haul-out, see how to winterize a boat and the sailboat stands and keel support guide.
Guide
Unstepping and storing the mast
Whether the mast is pulled depends on the boat, the yard's crane access and how the boat is covered. Where it comes down, the goal is to store the spar straight and evenly supported.
Store the mast horizontally on padded supports spaced so it does not sag between points — a long spar left on two end supports will bow over months. Many yards use a dedicated mast rack; trestles or padded crutches work for shorter rigs. Keep the spar off the ground, protected from anything that could ding or scratch the section, and arranged so spreaders and fittings are not bearing the weight.
Before storing, rinse the mast, inspect the section, sheaves and fittings, and ease any fasteners you will service in spring. Note that the mast support is separate from the hull support: the boat is held by its own stands and keel supports regardless of where the spar is stored. For how the hull is blocked up, see the sailboat stands and keel support guide.
Guide
Standing and running rigging
Rigging is where careful labelling pays off, because reassembly months later is far easier when every wire and line is identified.
For standing rigging, detach, rinse in fresh water, inspect for broken strands, cracks, corrosion and worn swages, and coil and label each stay and shroud so it returns to the same position. Tape or bag turnbuckles and clevis pins together with their fitting. For running rigging, wash halyards and sheets, let them dry fully, and store them loosely coiled and dry; salt and damp left in line shortens its life and breeds mildew.
Keep everything off a damp floor and out of standing water. Winter is also the natural time to flag any wire, fitting or line that should be replaced before next season, rather than discovering it under load on the water. None of this changes how the hull is supported — that remains the job of the stands and keel supports under the boat.
Guide
Drying and storing sails
Sails put away damp are the most common winter casualty, so drying comes first.
Rinse salt off if the sails have seen sea use, then dry them completely before storage — even slightly damp cloth left bagged for months invites mildew and staining. Fold or roll sails loosely rather than packing them hard along the same creases every year, and store them in a dry, ventilated space away from rodents and direct sunlight. Bag them clearly labelled so the right sail is to hand in spring.
Winter is a good moment to inspect for chafe, small tears, UV damage and tired stitching, and to send sails for repair or a service wash while the loft is quiet. With spars, rigging and sails handled, the remaining winter task is the boat itself — held safely on its stands and keel supports as covered in how to winterize a boat.
Guide
Common mistakes with rig and sail storage
A few recurring mistakes cause most spring surprises.
The first is storing a mast on too few supports, letting a long spar sag or bow over the winter. The second is bagging sails or coiling rigging while still damp or salty, which leads to mildew, staining and corrosion. The third is failing to label rigging, turning spring reassembly into guesswork. The fourth is leaving the mast stepped under a full cover without accounting for the extra windage and weight the hull and stands then carry through winter gales.
The fifth is unrelated to the rig but just as important: under-supporting the hull itself while attention is on the spar. The boat must rest on side stands and keel supports matched to its weight and hull shape, on a firm surface, whatever you do with the rig. KIPAC manufactures CE-documented sailboat stands and keel supports for exactly that, configured to the boat during quotation — see the sailboat stands and keel support guide.
Checklist
Mast, rigging and sail storage checklist
Confirm with the yard whether the mast is unstepped, based on crane access, covering and how the hull will be supported.
Store the spar horizontally on padded supports spaced to prevent sagging, off the ground and clear of fittings bearing weight.
Wash, check for broken strands and corrosion, then coil and label each stay and shroud with its fittings.
Clean halyards and sheets, dry them fully and store loosely coiled in a dry place.
Rinse if salty, dry thoroughly, fold or roll loosely and bag labelled in a dry, ventilated space.
Note any wire, fitting, line or sail needing service so it is fixed before next season.
Make sure the boat is held on sailboat stands and keel supports matched to its weight and hull, independent of the rig.
Equipment
Related KIPAC equipment
Equipment for lifting and controlled boatyard handling.
View equipment →Support systems for sailboats in combination with keel support.
View equipment →Technical keel support solutions for load transfer during storage.
View equipment →FAQ
FAQ
It depends on the boat, the yard's crane access and how you cover the boat. Unstepping is common because it removes windage and weight from the hull and stands, simplifies covering and lets you inspect and service the spar and rigging. Some boats are left stepped, but then the hull support and cover must account for the extra wind load through winter.
Store the mast horizontally on padded supports spaced so the section cannot sag or bow over months — a long spar on just two end supports will deform. Keep it off the ground, protected from knocks, and arranged so spreaders and fittings are not carrying the weight. A dedicated mast rack or padded trestles both work.
Dry them completely before storage. Rinse salt off, let the cloth dry fully, fold or roll loosely rather than along the same hard creases, and store in a dry, ventilated space away from rodents and direct sun. Damp or salty sails bagged for months are the main cause of mildew and staining.
No. The mast, rigging and sails are stored separately, while the hull is held by its own side stands and keel supports sized to the boat's weight and hull shape. If the mast is left stepped, plan for extra wind load, but the support equipment under the boat is what keeps it stable either way.
Yes. KIPAC manufactures CE-documented sailboat stands and keel supports designed for keel boats, which carry and stabilize the hull on land while the rig is stored. The correct number, type and capacity depend on the boat's weight and hull, and are confirmed with the KIPAC team during quotation.
