Ian,
I have more information I can share if anyone with some expertise cares to assist and discuss.
I have a sistership IMS certificate. I have information on the original sailplan as designed by Alden Yachts. I have had a spar manufacturer look at data and come back with a sail plan with their moments of inertia and section weight of 4.8 lb/ft.
I own a nice new mast that I can install. It will fit desired sailplan with minor modification. However as I stated it is a heavier by just over 1lb/ft than designed by aforementioned spar manufacturer. The design that I recieved was lighter than original (a good thing). The original spar was closer to the 6lb/ft.
The boat has a good stiff feel as it is but as mentioned underpowered in light air and actually suffers from Lee-helm. -not real common on CCA era boats in my experience. Granted part of that is because I think the main I had made was cut too flat and too much draft forward. -its dacron so that will change
Ideally a nice carbon fiber mast would be great. -not in the current budget.
So really I am wondering how much noticable weight could be removed aloft by sythetic rigging and should I be scared to add the weight of this replacement spar aloft.
Thanks,