M in MI wrote:
I partially agree with Mbounds, only because it depends on how it was installed on the aluminum mast. Case in point, when I first got my boat.
I downhauled my main, and noticed that the joint look like it was bent backward toward aft. When I took it out, I noticed that the comptip was alittle loose at the joint. So I took it apart, the comptip may have been cut slightly shorter to avoid the rivets of the tang, I don't remember for sure, but do remember I was able to pull it out faily easy. I tightened It up on reinstall with aluminum rods as shims along the luff track to somewhat wedge it in there, and custom made a pin with tapped out holes on each end to bolt to the outsides of the mast on each side, along with epoxy for strength.
So the long answer is that if you were able to do it why would you want to.
It would be hard to keep it tight in the mast when using it.
The very early retrofit kits had shorter Comptips that didn't rely on the tang rivets for security. It didn't take Hobie long to change to the current style for the very reason you mention. You have one of the early retrofit kits.