Euler
Hello,
Great discussion. I would just like to back up a bit, maybe fill things in.
First, the whole reason that you have a keel-stepped main is so that you can have a lighter mast than if it were deck-stepped. With the mast firmly secured (wedged) at the partners your mast can be at least 40% stiffer than a deck-stepped mast of the same dimensions and material. This also means that if you put a real tune on the rig before the wedges (or Spartite) are in, the mast, if it is of proper size, will want to buckle from the compression loads, and you won't be able to keep it steady at the partners. As always, I recommend that you run the numbers on mast scantlings, but the very fact that the mast wants to bump up against the partners is a good sign.
That adjustable step is a great thing, since it means, as someone else pointed out, that you can get a fair curve right from the bottom of the mast. Ideally, you should be able to set your rake, get the mast centered laterally, move the butt aft an inch or so, wedge the partners, and then put a real tune on.
The partners might indeed not be centered in the hull, something you can discover with measurements. Or the mast step itself might be off-center. What matters is that the mast comes up vertically, whether or not it and/or the partners are centered.
It might seem that the partners aren't big enough to give much adjustment room, but remember that a little move at the partners can translate to a big move at the masthead. It can also make a big difference in the amount of bend you can get. We typically put the mast well forward in the partners, for the sake of easy bending. Whether using wedges or Spartite, you'll need enough space forward of the mast that the wedge or rubber isn't too thin.
As you can see, this stage of things is quite fussy, at least if you want to get the most out of your rig. Be in touch if you'd like a visit.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss
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