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Hi,
Welding is a truly lousy option here, as it is very difficult to do without making things worse, is unlikely to make things better, and it will in any event destroy your paint job. The shape of the cracks indicates that the tube is indeed welded in. These cracks are very likely to continue to migrate into the mast wall, at the location on the mast where the standing rig loads are highest. I would drill out for shouldered bushings, and get compatible tangs for them. This will eliminate the fractured metal, and give a fuller bearing for the throughbolt.Said throughbolt will have its threads cut on a lathe, with nuts at both ends,such that the threads stop just outside of the tangs, thus no compression on the mast.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss
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