Old Aluminum Mast -- Replace?

[Brion Toss]

Hello,
Probably want to avoid any welding, partly because it is very difficult to do without making things worse, and partly because the urge to do it appears to stem from ignorance. Take the mast as an entry into the nature of the rig. Start researching its properties, and expand out into the larger flow of forces. When you understand the rig, you'll do right by it.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss