I eliminated the black foam and installed a halyard to raise and lower the main on my boat. I got tired of raising the main only to lower it again because the foam wasn't positioned correctly for the ring to lock onto the hook at the top of the mast. Sometimes it would hook on okay but would not unhook so you would have to tip the boat over on the beach to unhook it. For me, the halyard was the way to go and I just have to live with the little bit of extra weight that I carry aloft due to the halyard.

Jennifer Lindsay
Taipan 4.9 #262