# Mast area noise **URL:** \ **Category:** Newsgroups Archive Prior to 2025\ **Created:** [September 17, 2025, 11:46pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/mast-area-noise/10083 "2025-09-17T23:46:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/n26_115_233/original/1X/39e3f8ffb93f4278d654ae38d831066e407d616b.jpeg) [@system](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/system)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2025, 11:46pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/mast-area-noise/10083/1 "2025-09-17T23:46:52Z")
We were out on Lake Ontario when i heard a noise coming from somewhere around the mast. The winds were about 12 knots with about 3 foot waves. We were on a close reach, and with the waves hitting the side of the boat, there was reasonable motion The attached video contains the noises. I suspect loose wedges but have found that all of them are tight and not bottomed out.. They are wood and I wonder if replacing them with plastic ones would solve the problem. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you John Barbour Nature 26U Toronto > **(attachments)** > ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/n26_115_233/original/1X/39e3f8ffb93f4278d654ae38d831066e407d616b.jpeg) [@system](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/system)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2025, 11:53pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/mast-area-noise/10083/2 "2025-09-17T23:53:06Z")
I have only ever seen the rink board (plastic) wedges so far but have also seen where people carry wood ones as back up but not as primaries John SMYTH Fatal Distraction NS30U #388 Toronto Canada. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/n26_115_233/original/1X/39e3f8ffb93f4278d654ae38d831066e407d616b.jpeg) [@system](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/system)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 1:00am UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/mast-area-noise/10083/3 "2025-09-18T01:00:47Z")
I’d look for any evidence that Nature’s mast step casting is damaged or loose. If the wedges are snug and the deck collar isn’t cracked … any movement in the base would translate into lots of force on the deck. There is an article on the website about a mast step repair that may shed some light . Good luck diagnosing the problem. I hops it’s something easy to fix. Rob s/v SOAVE NS33 #009 Cedar Point YC Westport, CT ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/n26_115_233/original/1X/39e3f8ffb93f4278d654ae38d831066e407d616b.jpeg) [@system](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/system)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 1:02am UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/mast-area-noise/10083/4 "2025-09-18T01:02:48Z")
Before buying the plastic wedges you should check and make sure that the bolts at the base of the mast are all tight. Mark Powers ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/n26_115_233/original/1X/39e3f8ffb93f4278d654ae38d831066e407d616b.jpeg) [@system](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/system)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 1:08am UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/mast-area-noise/10083/5 "2025-09-18T01:08:02Z")
Hi John, the noise sounds like the dreaded “mast clunk”. If so, it’s easily fixed by snugging up the bolts that hold the mast inside the mast base. Be careful not to overtighten the bolts because the bolts are stainless steel and the mast base is aluminum and can easily be stripped. Ron Ron & Diane Schryver “Alpha Waves” 1987 NS30U #393 Georgian Bay Midland ON ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/n26_115_233/original/1X/39e3f8ffb93f4278d654ae38d831066e407d616b.jpeg) [@system](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/system)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 1:38pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/mast-area-noise/10083/6 "2025-09-18T13:38:25Z")
It sounds like mast noise to me. I had similar noises and eventually replaced my wooden wedges with plastic ones and am quite happy. One word of caution – the only way to check the set bolts at the base is to loosen the lock nuts first and then check the tightness by loosening them first. Don’t just try and tighten them. This will tell you if they are seized in the shoe. If so, I believe I have a lengthy email on that subject. My advice to anyone is if you are going to check for tightness, take them out, run a thread chaser and then screw back in with Tef Gell coating the threads. Joe Valinoti S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221 Sea Harbour YC Oriental, NC USA ```auto ``` ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/n26_115_233/original/1X/39e3f8ffb93f4278d654ae38d831066e407d616b.jpeg) [@system](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/system)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2025, 8:58pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/mast-area-noise/10083/7 "2025-09-21T20:58:12Z")
Thank you everyone for the good advice. I backed out the two mast step bolts and covered the threads with stainless/aluminum anti seize compound, before re-tightening them. I also checked the deck collar bolts and was surprised I could relatively easily tighten them up a half turn or so. They were almost inaccessible but my ratcheting box end wrench managed to squeeze in. I will install plastic wedges when we launch in the spring. John Barbour Nature 26U Toronto