Old socks for laid-up standing rigging
Issue 90: May/June 2013
We remove our boat’s mast every year when we lay her up and store her for the winter. When we’re doing the annual haulout, I have some old socks and short lengths of light line at the ready. As soon as we disconnect a shroud from its chainplate, I slip a sock over the turnbuckle and tie it in place. The socks serve as cushions to keep the shroud hardware from dinging the deck, brightwork, and portlights. They also serve as slipcovers to keep the turnbuckle threads clean and out of the dirt and gravel when the mast is on mast stands and being prepared for winter storage.
During the winter, we clean and re-lubricate the turnbuckles and slip new clean socks over them. These socks protect the turnbuckles until we’re ready to reinstall the mast and shrouds for the coming sailing season.
Marilyn Kinsey has been sailing for 60 years, the first 30 without motors. A 16-foot wooden sloop was followed by a Lido 14, Lightning, C&C 24, Cape Dory 28, and a Pretorien 35. After a spell with a Jarvis Newman trawler, she and her husband, Glen Brown, resumed sailing with a Bristol 35.5C and a “delightful” Expo Solar Sailer.
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