replacing rod rigging

[Brion Toss]

Hi again,
First, don't plan on reusing any of the old rig; at its age, recycling is the best thing to do.
Next, larger holes in the mast, assuming that they are for tangs appropriate to the mast, are not a problem, since the tangs, once installed, will actually strengthen that area. One thing to be sure of is that the tangs fit smoothly against the interior wall of the mast. You can check this by sliding them into the bottom of the mast when it is out.
Next, I recommend staying with rod for this boat. It will notice the difference if you go to something more elastic.
Finally, you can install conventional tangs, with interior reinforcement, and still use rod. Valiant has been doing this for decades. This will make for a simpler installation, and leave you options in the future. Let me know in a PM if you need to buy those tangs.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss