Balancing spruce Mast's with shims

[Max Mariner]

I have a formosa 41 ketch C.C. with spruce mast's. I bought the boat in March of '06 and just recently stepped the mast's for the first time since she was delivered to me.

How are you sailors utilizing your shims when balancing your spruce mast's? Not to sound skeptical but I have been given two differing suggestions from sailors whose boats i know have alum. spars.

• With loosened shrouds, Balance the mast using the shims and a halyard to measure symmetry port-to-strbd....if the mast needs to go to one side or the other, use a mallet or hammer to 'tap' the appropriate shim in further to move the mast to the eventual balance. Continue to balance by tuning the shrouds.

or

• balance the mast with initial similar methods but, he insists, do not hammer in the shims as doing so will put undo stress on the cabin house. Only 'wedge' in the shims with my hands. He believes tightening just the rigging is the best and main method to balance the masts.

any thoughts, additional or completely different approaches?

help, i want to go Sailing!

Max
Duluth, MN