Some thing, different terms
Brion is speaking of a flange bushing set into the mast where the tang attaches. An ideal setup is to have a large aluminum flange bushing in the mast, and a stainless steel flange bushing that fits perfectly into the aluminum one, the tang fits between and rides on that stainless bushing. The hole in the SS bushing will accept stainless tang bolt that hold the whole sandwich together.
Brion mentions skipping the compression tube if you get a bolt cut to perfect thread length -- the idea here is that is the threads are perfect length it is impossible to compress the extrusion. An important side benefit is that you will not have load riding on the threads of the bolt - the threads are the weakest part.
This system allows the tang to rotate -- eliminating possibilities of fracture.
This simplest way to pull this off is to purchase a system ready to go. Brion's shop can fix you up.
Bob
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