My boat has a thick cable safety line below the deck. If the rope were to fail the backstay can only release out to where the mast is upright.

It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside ;-)

:: I do not think the mast bases changed.
::
:: By "pin", if you mean the hinge pin, it is not working
:: when the mast is rigged and when sailing--it only takes
:: the load of raising and lowering the mast.
::
:: There is a locating pin in the base of the mast that
:: does the work to keep the mast base in place when
:: sailing. Theoretically you could take the hinge pin out
:: while sailing.
::
:: If you have any concerns about your mast base (or mast),
:: call Buzz at Ballenger. He has or can make all the parts
:: for our rigs. I just had him make me a new headstay and
:: backstay.
::
:: Which is a good reminder for everyone: inspect your
:: headstay (top & bottom) regularly--the original rigs
:: have no toggle at the top of the headstay, and flogging
:: jibs and floppy headstays lead to failures at the top
:: swage where you can't easily see them. My last headstay
:: was broken nearly halfway through when I got lucky and
:: noticed.
::
:: Buzz mentions that most backstay failures in our types
:: of boats are below deck, so be sure to inspect your
:: entire backstay tackle carefully. If the tackle fails,
:: you can lose your rig.
::

:: --brendan

::
::
::
:: :: I have hull 10 with the original mast. Does anyone know
:: :: if at a later date the mast base has been beefed up? My
:: :: pin seems small and just wondering if the new ones are
:: :: bigger.
:: ::
:: :: Thanks
::
:: :: Don