Mast partner clearance

[waterside]

I'm building a Bolger Light Schooner, and I'm just about ready to cut holes to form the mast partners. The masts are 3.5" diameter birdsmouth-style, made of kauri, and are unstayed.

My question is, exactly how big should the I drill the holes for the mast partner? It seems like they should be oversized by 1/16 or 1/8", to allow for expansion of the mast & partner itself. But, will I then need mast wedges to lock in the mast? Or is it ok to leave a little bit of "rattle space"?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Don Maurer]

Give it enough clearance to wrap a piece of leather around the mast.

[Buddy]

I like to line the hole with the leather so the mast drops right in easily.

[waterside]

Good ideas. I should have thought of them myself...

Thanks!

[Nicholas Carey]

The mast should be wedged at the partners as that contributes greatly to the stiffness of the column. The support supplied by the partners is why keel-stepped spars can be smaller in section (e.g., more limber) than the equivalent deck-stepped spar.