Mast/deck wedges

[David Knecht]

I was tuning my mast recently, and realized that I did not have any information recorded on the size and arrangement of wooden wedges at the mast partner.  Does anyone have that information?  Thanks- Dave

David Knecht

S/V Aries

1990 C&C 34+

New London, CT

[Tim Aseltine]

Are you referring to the for wedges at the deck?

If so, send pictures of the four.

Tim

Sent from my iPad

On May 12, 2026, at 8:34 AM, David Knecht <davida...@gmail.com> wrote:

I was tuning my mast recently, and realized that I did not have any information recorded on the size and arrangement of wooden wedges at the mast partner.  Does anyone have that information?  Thanks- Dave

David Knecht

S/V Aries

1990 C&C 34+

New London, CT

<pastedGraphic.tiff>

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[David Knecht]

Hi Tim- Yes- the wedges/blocks that sit behind and in front of the mast where it passes through the deck.  My recollection is that they are blocks, not wedges on my boat, but it's been a while since I looked at them.  I want to compare my setup (which I don't know but will check on Friday) with other boats.  I have been trying to figure out why I seem to have excessive rake even with my forestay fairly tight.  I realized that I did not pay attention to how the yard put those blocks in when the put the mast in a few years ago.  Presumably, if they are not correct, it could restrict the ability of the furler to pull the mast forward.  Dave

David Knecht

S/V Aries

1990 C&C 34+

New London, CT

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cc-3436/01F9121E-2EF8-42CC-B817-363F9C0AE980%40gmail.com.

[Tim Aseltine]

We are required to drop the mast every winter. If you can look at the block you will notice quite a difference in the bow and stern blocks. The blocks match the shape of the mast and the stern one is flat up against the mast and the bow has a large curve.

I have found over the years of re-stepping the mast that it is easier to put the back one in first. 

I’m not sure if this is what you’re looking for.

Tim

Sent from my iPad

On May 12, 2026, at 4:09 PM, David Knecht <davida...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Tim- Yes- the wedges/blocks that sit behind and in front of the mast where it passes through the deck.  My recollection is that they are blocks, not wedges on my boat, but it's been a while since I looked at them.  I want to compare my setup (which I don't know but will check on Friday) with other boats.  I have been trying to figure out why I seem to have excessive rake even with my forestay fairly tight.  I realized that I did not pay attention to how the yard put those blocks in when the put the mast in a few years ago.  Presumably, if they are not correct, it could restrict the ability of the furler to pull the mast forward.  Dave

David Knecht

S/V Aries

1990 C&C 34+

New London, CT

<pastedGraphic.tiff>

On May 12, 2026, at 8:57 AM, Tim Aseltine <timas...@gmail.com> wrote:

Are you referring to the for wedges at the deck?

If so, send pictures of the four.

Tim

Sent from my iPad

On May 12, 2026, at 8:34 AM, David Knecht <davida...@gmail.com> wrote:

I was tuning my mast recently, and realized that I did not have any information recorded on the size and arrangement of wooden wedges at the mast partner.  Does anyone have that information?  Thanks- Dave

David Knecht

S/V Aries

1990 C&C 34+

New London, CT

<pastedGraphic.tiff>

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[Clark Trow]

David,  

They are wedges. There are four of them. When I had my mast down, I fabricated replacements out of HDPE plastic because the wooden ones in the boat were breaking down. Not all of the replacements fit and I didn’t have time to trim them to fit, so I’m currently using a mixture of wood and plastic. 

My recollection is that there are ridges in the mast partners between which the partners fit, so the width of each is important. 

I’m a former Lightning sailor and am a friend of Tom Allen, whom, I believe, is the only Lightning builder in the United States. He once told me that the mast should be raised without blocks in the partners and centered port and starboard and blocks made to fit the partners in place because there’s no guarantee that the mast is in the center of the partners.  If “standard” mast partner blocks are used, they may bend the mast at the partners. That’s probably less of an issue with a C&C 34+.

I am willing to send you pictures of the blocks that aren’t currently on my boat and provide basic measurements. Let me know if you’d like me to. 

Clark Trow

Painstakingly typed on a mobile device. Please excuse typos and autocorrect errors. 

On May 12, 2026, at 4:09 PM, David Knecht <davida...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Tim- Yes- the wedges/blocks that sit behind and in front of the mast where it passes through the deck.  My recollection is that they are blocks, not wedges on my boat, but it's been a while since I looked at them.  I want to compare my setup (which I don't know but will check on Friday) with other boats.  I have been trying to figure out why I seem to have excessive rake even with my forestay fairly tight.  I realized that I did not pay attention to how the yard put those blocks in when the put the mast in a few years ago.  Presumably, if they are not correct, it could restrict the ability of the furler to pull the mast forward.  Dave

David Knecht

S/V Aries

1990 C&C 34+

New London, CT

<pastedGraphic.tiff>

On May 12, 2026, at 8:57 AM, Tim Aseltine <timas...@gmail.com> wrote:

Are you referring to the for wedges at the deck?

If so, send pictures of the four.

Tim

Sent from my iPad

On May 12, 2026, at 8:34 AM, David Knecht <davida...@gmail.com> wrote:

I was tuning my mast recently, and realized that I did not have any information recorded on the size and arrangement of wooden wedges at the mast partner.  Does anyone have that information?  Thanks- Dave

David Knecht

S/V Aries

1990 C&C 34+

New London, CT

<pastedGraphic.tiff>

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[Clark Trow]

David,

Perhaps I should have mentioned that in the Lightning class, mast bend is adjusted (between, not during, races) based on wind velocity. Not possible in a 34+. But you can change the bend of a 34+ mast (somewhat) by increasing/decreasing the length of the aft block before tightening the backstay. 

Clark Trow

On May 12, 2026, at 8:09 PM, Clark Trow <clar...@gmail.com> wrote:

David,  

[David Knecht]

So it sounds like 4 wedges.  All equal size?  Two in front and two behind?  Dave

David Knecht

S/V Aries

1990 C&C 34+

New London, CT

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cc-3436/F0485E57-62E5-40A7-9BA6-76A5C72FB43B%40gmail.com.

[Tim Aseltine]

No. Four wedges two on the sides and bow and stern ones. The bow and sterns are shaped to the mast contour.

Tim

Sent from my iPad

On May 12, 2026, at 9:15 PM, David Knecht <davida...@gmail.com> wrote:

So it sounds like 4 wedges.  All equal size?  Two in front and two behind?  Dave

David Knecht

S/V Aries

1990 C&C 34+

New London, CT

<pastedGraphic.tiff>

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cc-3436/D936683A-99D3-486D-8FE1-383758C4774A%40gmail.com.

[Clark Trow]

Photos of the wedges are attached. 

Clark Trow

On May 12, 2026, at 9:25 PM, Tim Aseltine <timas...@gmail.com> wrote:

No. Four wedges two on the sides and bow and stern ones. The bow and sterns are shaped to the mast contour.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cc-3436/EFAE9FE0-9299-4374-A22E-B5F7AE924222%40gmail.com.

[Chuck Scheaffer]

Interesting thread.

My 34R has a series of teak tapered wedges behind the mast heel that press the "mast heel" against the very forward end of the aluminum box forming the "mast step".  

The deck ring has a bunch of hard rubber wedges, to position the mast in the forward end of the ring at the deck, usually called the mast partners.  I cut these wedges ( I have six) from a single hard rubber wheel chock from Harbor Freight.  The purpose was to support the mast here, in a way it can bend with backstay adjustments, and rubber was chosen to prevent point loading the aluminum mast..  

I did report prebend as well as minimum and extreme mast rake, some time ago.

Chuck

 

   

[David Knecht]

Thanks everyone for the information.  I checked the boat yesterday and the wedges I have are wood and shaped to the mast with one in front and one behind of equal size as well as side shims.  So everything seems normal there.  So the hypothesis that the blocks are in wrong goes the way of many hypotheses- overboard/in the trash.  Reading back over this conversation, I have the split backstay adjuster that splits 20-30' up from the transom.  It sounds like the position of these varies from boat to boat.  Dave

   

David Knecht

Emeritus Rear Commodore/Thames Yacht Club

Emeritus Professor/University of Connecticut

Basketball Capital of the World

On May 14, 2026, at 1:20 AM, Chuck Scheaffer <scheaff...@gmail.com> wrote:

Interesting thread.

My 34R has a series of teak tapered wedges behind the mast heel that press the "mast heel" against the very forward end of the aluminum box forming the "mast step".  

The deck ring has a bunch of hard rubber wedges, to position the mast in the forward end of the ring at the deck, usually called the mast partners.  I cut these wedges ( I have six) from a single hard rubber wheel chock from Harbor Freight.  The purpose was to support the mast here, in a way it can bend with backstay adjustments, and rubber was chosen to prevent point loading the aluminum mast..  

I did report prebend as well as minimum and extreme mast rake, some time ago.

Chuck

 

   

On Tue, May 12, 2026 at 8:34 AM David Knecht <davida...@gmail.com> wrote:

I was tuning my mast recently, and realized that I did not have any information recorded on the size and arrangement of wooden wedges at the mast partner.  Does anyone have that information?  Thanks- Dave

David Knecht

S/V Aries

1990 C&C 34+

New London, CT

<pastedGraphic.tiff>

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