often the top piece does not fit tightly onto the bottom piece,
allowing for a slight amount of wiggle when the mast is not
tensioned by a sail.
Is this harmful? Is there any reason to - or not to - create a
perfect fit between the two pieces by shimming the bottom piece? It
seems like it would be easy enough to do this just with clear
packing tape wrapped around the joint on the bottom mast piece.
--