My mast is 1 inch off to starboard so it sure does happen. I am told that it happens because someone measures 37 inches and says, OK, cut at 1/2 inch off of 18 inches and gets the 1/2 inch the wrong way.
In any event, my mas partners are fairly tight which I have been told is wrong. I have been told that they should not be tight so that the mast can move with expansion without being restricted. A small amount of space isn't going to prevent the partners from supporting the mast. My mast is spruce.
I would suggest you get this point clarified before making the partners and wedging them in as I did. That said, I have seen no ill effects from the say I have it so I have not changed it.
By the way, after 20 years of trying everything out there, the best way to seal the mast off is with high quality duct tape covered over with sumbrella to keep the sun off it. Nothing else worked on my square cross section mast.
Allen
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