Installing Mast Wedges

[mike baker]

How should wedges be installed in the partners to hold the mast in place?  To better cover the boat for the winter we remove the mast each fall and restep it at launch in the spring.  This will be our 3rd season with our C34, and we install wood wedges the same way the PO did it -- by driving them in from below.  However, they tend to fall out this way.  Installing wedges from above seems problematic due to a really nice boot that covers the opening from above.  I know about Startite and will use this some day but not just yet.


Mike Baker #815 "Gray Hawk"

[Stu Jackson]

MAST WEDGES

Mike

We had our stick pulled last year when we re-rigged.  The wedges were done by the yard, who put them in from the top.  Our original wedges were also from the top.  Neither interfered with the mast boot.  We also have covered our mast boot with Ron Hill's idea of sunbrella fabric that keeps the boot plastic intact.

My only issues with how the yard did the new wedges is that they off-centered the mast just a tad to port through the hole, and the wedges themselves make nasty screeching noises when we're hard on the wind. The mast looks vertical in all other respects (even considering the port list stuff!).  

To deal with the noise, I've tried adjusting the turnbuckle from the mast to the underside of the deck with no luck.  Maybe they used hard wood instead of softer pine. [Anybody have a name for that turnbuckle down below?]

One of these days I'll get to re-centering the mast, but I'm sure there will be some good advice on this coming right here to this post very soon.

Stu

[Ted Pounds]

Mike,

Now would be a good time to consider Spartite.  With the mast down it's easier to do a perfect job of greasing the partners.  Then step and rig the mast as usual except use a couple of lines instead of wedges to keep the mast centered.  By the way you want the mast centered on the boat not on the hole.  Then seal off the bottom of the hole with clay, pour the Spartite and you're done with wedges forever  :cool:.  Just my thoughts on the issue...

Ted

[Stu Jackson]

SPARTITE

Ted

What size kit of spartite is required for our boats?

Stu

[Ted Pounds]

As I recall I got the large size which is basically a double batch.  However I don't think I used much of the second batch, but the small wasn't quite enough.

Ted

[jentine]

I installed the Spartite Epoxy last season.  The large is twice the size of the small.  I have 1/2 of a large kit left over.  A large kit is enough for two Catalina 34's.
I have a kit for sale if anyone is interested at a much better price than the discount houses.
Jim Kane

[Ted Pounds]

I guess if I pushed the clay just a little farther up the hole I'd have 1/2 a kit leftover too.

Ted

[wilsonlb]

I had the mast pulled for transport last summer.  Just like Ron, I used oak and put in 6 rather than four.  Mine were tapered much more than his, and longer.  After tapping them home, I used a finish saw to cut off the wedge about 3/8" above the deck collar (be carefull not to cut all the way through or you'll scratch the mast.)

No creaking and the boot still fits perfectly.

[Eliosso]

Just got back from doing a few projects on our new boat and noticed that their aren't any wedges and don't know if there ever were any. Question: are they absolutely necessary??
The mast is up and ready to go , so I think!!!!!!
Paul

[Mike and Theresa Vaccaro]

Another easy way to protect the mast boot is to wrap it with wide rigging tape.  First, remove the hose clamps and slide 'em up the mast (you can hold 'em in place with some tape to keep them out of the way).  You may also have to remove any hardware that interferes with your ability to wrap the tape (e.g., padeye for the boom vang, etc.)  Wrap from the bottom up so that the tape overlaps like a shingle (i.e., sheds water).  With some careful stretching, the tape will conform nicely to the boot.  After the wrap, you can replace the hose clamps which will hold everything in place.  Looks sharp and makes a easily replaced "sacrificial" cover.  On the downside, if your handy with a sewing machine, Sunbrella is probably cheaper than wide rigging tape!

Cheers,

Mike

[saltydog]

Perhaps an opposing view, but I no longer use wedges because when the cabin heats up thermally in the summer and expands have experienced binding and then popping when the wedges finally allow movement. So removed them to let the cabin move. Don't believe performance impacted much, if any.

Jeff

[rappareems]

Use the Spartite.  Small kit is sufficient.