I had planned on using Spartite instead of the wedges that are currently being used. Unfortunately with our mast centered to the boat the mast is touching the partner to the port. The mast is almost touching the wall of the hole through in the deck, below the partners. Mast centering was measured with a metal tape from the top of the mast to the chain plate. The shrouds were properly tensioned. The mast is straight.
With the mast against the partners I think I am out of luck using Spartite.
I know many C36 owners say their masts are off center with the partner, but has anyone else found theirs this far off ? Could my mast step be off center ? Is there some play between the mast step and the mast that could account for this ? I did not check this possibility the last time the mast was stepped.
Nile Schneider
Mañana C36 #1798
Lake Champlain, VT
When centering the mast, the partners and the masthead don't go together. Also the chainplates are not necessarily symmetrical.
I would first center the mast AT THE PARTNERS, using a metal tape to points on the edge of the boat, probably using references on the toe rail, then do the spartite, THEN try to center the masthead.
On my boat, this worked fine I only wish I had pushed the mast forward further in the partners before pouring the blue goo - a bit of prebend would be in improvement.
Jason V
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Nile,
I recently encountered a similar problem when I pulled my mast a few months ago. The wedges held the mast off to one side in the partners, much closer on the port side. When I stepped the mast I duplicated the original position of the wedges ; I also had wanted to use spartite but was concerned about the misalignment. I recently asked a rigger to tune my rigging and to look at the mast placement. He indicated that I should center the mast, and use the spartite, then try to center the masthead, much as Jason described above. If it is that straight forward it makes me wonder why Catalina didn't do that in the first place? Haven't done it yet...
Paul Meyers
1986 Catalina 36
Hull #615
Ventura, California