Some pictures for those who have not seen them. The bottom mostly just looks fancy. But the spaces between the wedges are so any moisture doesn't get trapped. The holes in the top are to make it much easier to remove them at a later time. They have been fitted to the mast so they are all the same at bottom and top... This is the one point I have a problem with. Prefitting the wedges in this way leaves no room for adjustment to change the tilt of the mast or to allow for expansion or shrinkage. To me they are a part of ongoing adjustment. On the other hand, there are people on this site who have poured hard setting goop in there that is pretty permanent and have had no problems. Some of the large fully rigged ships have mast wedges that fit just as permanently as these fancy ones too.... however, It would be wise to remember that these are stayed masts where the method of keeping the mast aligned is stays while a free standing mast must be adjusted with the wedges. I do know that it seems common on junk rigged to to trim the bottoms after the mast install is finished. The top being covered by a boot. It is probably not a bad idea to have new wedges available if the mast will be re-stepped anyway.

Anonymous wrote:

People who are following the rebuild of Tally Ho on youtube will have seen, in today's episode, some very fine mast wedges, with detailing that I'd never have thought of in a million years - slots

They are indeed a work of art.... pretty much like the rest of the vessel. However, I would guess that if they have done them that way there is some president for doing them that way. Keel stepped masts used to be the only way it was done at one point. Looking for "traditional mast wedges" did not yield other artistic mast wedges.... it did get some pictures of potato chips and women's shoes though. Google search is not very well informed on this subject. The mast wedges for tall ships were a little more rounded, heavy and very big... I would guess the detail shown on Tally Ho is reserved for yachts, not work boats like junks or war ships.

Pretty  but not very traditional deck winches/capstans too.

People who are following the rebuild of Tally Ho on youtube will have seen, in today's episode, some very fine mast wedges, with detailing that I'd never have thought of in a million years - slots to drain any stray water and to make it easy to lever them out when the mast is unstepped, in particular. Typical of the immense amount of thought and craftsmanship that's going into the project. Is it worth doing, on an item that will be hidden under the mast boot? I don't know. But then, I've often struggled to remove tight mast wedges, so maybe it is.