Graham Cox wrote:
Ben wrote:
I was tempted by products like Spartite but went for wedges for the ease of unstepping the mast.
When we first bought Lexia and I sailed her some distance singlehanded I was alarmed at the noise the wooden wedges at deck partners made. (I was still very much a junk rig novice. )
Allspars of Plymouth recommended replacing the wedges with Spartite which they then did. It was very reassuring to have eliminated the noise.
When the mainmast was lifted out later to repair the mast step, the Spartite came up with the mast and was then moveable up and down the mast. (The tapered grp cone shaped deck partner and the mast had been 'greased' by Allspars with a release agent prior to filling the gap with Spartite.)
After the repair the mast was re-stepped and the Spartite plug tapped down into position again.
So, based on my experience, I suggest that Spartite need not be more difficult than wedges for unstepping the mast. And then for restepping it, tapping down the existing Spartite plug would probably be easier than setting up wedges.
However, Spartite is not cheap and, for the committed DIY owner, wedges would perhaps be cheaper.
But over quite a few sailing miles now, the Spartite has required no maintenance and no adjustment.
I hope that this report might be helpful.