Old mast,...new mast. (pics)

[bobkaschak]

Here are a couple pic's of the upper mast on my 12' daysailer. The lower section of the mast is 10', and the upper section is 9'. The lower section is solid (laminated of 4/4 stock, and is in good shape. The upper section is a "box" construction, 7/16" thick stock, and was rotted, and busted apart on the lower "mortised" end where it mated with the top of the lower mast. I ended up building a new one, and I was looking for suggestions to "beef-up" the lower part of the new one to prevent it from busting apart like the old one. Have I lost everyone yet? I was thinking of an aluminum "box sleeve" to slide over the intersection after the two sections are assembled when I sail it. The old one was "band aided" with aluminum angle on the corners. Suggestions? Inputs? Here is also a link to some more photos.
Bob

http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=4291804847

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid29/p82396a567a29c199c8d017ab34c364ca/fd60da7e.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid29/p2c8e6afc5cb2f3ea86fe3cc62fede0c9/fd60da76.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid29/p479ab6adb566b2ab45a1a26b43af8dd3/fd60da46.jpg