[Warren M.]

If your marina gives you a choice (some do not), and you are in an area where it doesn't blow like hell a lot, I'd leave the mast up. I have my H28.5 hauled every winter in a yard about 20 miles south of Annapolis so we have fairly moderate winters. Storms (including ice storms) do occur, but are usually not severe. The yard where the boat is stored typically holds between 1,000 - 1,200 boats, mostly sail boats. Virtually every boat is blocked with the mast up. As far as I can tell, they have never had any problems related to storing boats with their masts up. I would only unstep my mast if I had specific work to do on it.