Simon,

If the unfortunate sailor <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> were to cut back the track groove, put a couple of stainless steel straps around the circumference of the section and rivet the straps in many places then rivet the halyard fitting to the strip it may just do the job. The only problem would be maintaining the correct offset for the beak.

The alternative would be to trim the section back until there was good material (maybe 20 mm) then rivet the fitting back on. Who wanted that extra 20 mm at the top anyway ? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Option 3 of having Santa deliver a new section would probably be the ultimate fix. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Regards,

Peter