by GreenLake » Tue Dec 07, 2010 8:01 pm
If you mean the diamond stays, many people report they have removed theirs entirely with no ill effect.
Removing them will make your mast bendier at the top. In theory, if the mast isn't strong enough, it could get damaged, but apparently that's not a concern in practice.
A bendier mast, especially together with a modern sail that's cut for it, would allow your mast to help depower your sail in a gust.
If you are missing parts for this, then you might simply be better off by removing the diamond stays and jump struts altogether.
BTW, this operation is on my "when I get around to" list...
~ green ~ lake ~ ~