Shellback mast step

[Dubb]

After putting off for a long while the act of turning the Shellback I built into an actual sailboat because of the anticipated (and now well deserved dread) of building the spars, I find myself stuck again. I drilled the hole in the front seat to match what I hope to be the rake of the mast, and I drilled a hole in the mast step at the same angle. I cut the "peg" into the base of the mast, and of course, it comes straight out of the bottom. Since the mast step hole angles, the mast step doesn't fit flush against the bottom of the mast when the two are put together. Should I cut the mast bottom at an angle (I hope not). I simply cannot figure this out.

[gary porter]

Dubb, Hopefully you cut the hole in the seat while it was installed. If so the rake on the mast should be ok. If the peg or bottom of the mast is hitting the bottom of the boat then cut that off a bit until it doesn't. If the mast, while sitting at its proper rake has an angle different than the mast step, well don't worry about that. Its the peg as you call it that hold the mast in place laterally and vertically the bottom of the mast will just sit on the mast step. Its not necessary that the whole base set flush. If you want it to then shave down the mast step a bit or you could build it up with a shim but I really think its a fine line your dealing with.
Don't stress ,,,it will work.
Gary ;)