Sail Track Replacement

[JChorlton]

I am pulling my main mast off my Spencer 44 ketch soon and am considering repainting it. This would probably require removal of the existing internal slide sail track which is 2 inches wide and riveted on at 2 inch intervals (1 inch down near the gooseneck). Since it might be easier to replace the sail track rather than strip, recondition and repaint it (and I can't find replacement internal slide track), I was wondering what the advisability is with regard to bolting on an external slide sail track. This would add a lot of holes right up the center of the old rivet holes which seems a little too Swiss Cheesy to me.

The mast is about 50' high and has a cross section of approximately 8 1/2" x 7" in a flat-sided oval shape. I think it has at least a 3/16" wall thickness.

Upper mast rivets:


Mast rivets near gooseneck:


The boom is similar but the rivets are spaced 3" apart and the boom is 4 1/2" in diameter.

Here's the boom track:


I don't mind the idea of changing over to an external slide track since the internal slides bind a lot inside the painted track. Overall, these spars seem to be in good condition so I'd prefer not to have to replace them. I'm just wondering what others have done or would do in this situation.

Thanks,
John