Wedge?
Dwayne: I sail a Northern 25. The mast is deck stepped. I don't use a wedge. My neighbour who also has a Northern doesn't use a wedge. In fact, I've never seen a Northern with a wedge under the mast.Each Fall I unstep the mast and remove all the halyards and other bits in order to store them inside. The mast goes on a rack. In the Spring I inspect the mast and all its fittings and repair/replace any bits that are suspect. For instance, this year I replaced the forestay and one shroud. The Rigging Shoppe supplied the material and did the swaging. I reattached the staf and shroud. Fifteen minute job. Then I reinstalled the halyards, topping lift, and radio antenna. After washing and waxing the mast I mounted the spreaders and then I stepped the mast. In total, a two hour job. That afternoon, in my slip, I tuned the shrouds and stays. Half-hour. Went sailing, and fine tuned the rig. Another half-hour. Couple weeks later, won my division in the season-opening race of the Lake Ontario Short Handed Racing Series. So at least my rig tuning was okay.