i've nearly come to the last step in the llm build and would like to see how others protect the base of the carbon mast from being shredded/gouged from the seam inside the mast step. some yachts i've seen seem to have gaffer tape around the outside of the carbon mast at the base and then seem to have a rubber boot/spat? over the top of the mast step itself(maybe to keep salt/sand out of the mast step?). very sorry for inept questions but i see a stupid question is safer than making a stupid mistake. cheers in advance yet again

chooks right , just a cleanup of the metal, and some protection overthe mast . i often just wrap some layers ofplumbers tape, which gradually wears off

I used a piece of 5mm Canvas reinforced rubber in the bottom of the mast Step and when I cut the base of the Mast down I split and fitted a bout 50mm of the piece over the but to cop any wear but Duct Tape helps as well. Again "Horses for Courses".
Ron

mine is similar to Cisco's solution.
swv pipe, (65mm?) with a strip cut out full length, fits into the mast step as a neat sliding fit, the gap in the swv pipe is where the welded seam of the steel tube sits.

mast fits perfectly in the plastic sleeve.

stephen.