On Wed, 20 Apr 2005 14:25:05 -0400, "Matt O'Toole"
wrote:

A better way to approach this problem is to seal the mast itself, running
halyards, etc., externally.

=============================================

External halyards are a really bad idea. They are easier to maintain
but the extra clutter and windage is a huge negative. As others have
pointed out, if a keel boat rolls, it will almost always lose the rig
and come back upright regardless (unless it fills and sinks).

Flotation at the mast top is good for one thing on small boats: It
prevents turning turtle and achieving stability mode #2, or inverting
the mast into the mud.