inch is no big deal. most keel-stepped boats have the ability to slide the butt of the mast forward or astern a few inches, and a number of different "chock" options at the pardners, again with a few inches of latitude. This helps adjust both the rake of the mast and the how the rigging is tuned.
Unless you are racing the boat and have your main cut for a very very specific rig tune, you can pretty much mimic the mast position by re-tuning the rig and I bet dollars to donuts you dont feel one teeny bit of difference at the hlem with your mast butt place one inch forward from where it was originally. my 2 cents and probobobably worth about that much. tf
