Firstly Dave: You don't need a pin or a hinge. The Wave mast is so light you can just grab it a little higher than the middle, set the butt on the ground between the hulls and lift it into the base. It is easy with one person and a slam dunk with two. If you are by yourself you need some sort of temp line to hold the mast forward against the shrouds, of course, while you pin the forestay.

A quarter or soda cap both work great instead of the teflon chip.

I have the new style but don't think one is better than the other.