Mizzen Mast Splice

[sdear]

I have an Allied Seawind II ketch. I'm going to add 18" - 24" to the bottom of my mizzen mast so I can stand under the boom without hitting my head or reducing the sails sq. ft.
I've got two 2' sections of the extrusion. 1 for the added length and 1 for the internal splice.
So here's the question. Is it acceptable for the internal splice to be made of 2 seperate pieces that fit along each side but not around the forward or aft ends? These 2 pieces would protrude into the existing mast section 12" and into the new section 12". Or, does the splice need to be a single piece that fits the whole inside perimeter?
Thanks!

[Brion Toss]

Hi,
There are so many potential pitfalls here that it is hard to know where to start. Do you know how well the current mast dimensions will suit the new unsupported length? How much the lower shroud angle will decrease? What the higher center of effort will do to your helm balance? How much harder it will be to furl the mizzen? Those are a few off the top, and we haven't even begun to address the sleeving issues. Regarding that, two close-fitting pieces should be okay if the mast is keel-stepped, as buckling loads are lower near the base than with deck-stepped. But I'd take a closer look at just shortening the sail; the center of effort won't go up two feet, the loss of sail area won't be that huge, and you won't be generating cans of variables.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss