Which mast should I use?

So I recently purchased an '84 in order to replace my '72 which is in poor shape. I'm not sure which mast would be best to use, they are both all aluminum. The older one is in better shape and seems to be sealed well and I put new cleats on this one just a couple years ago. The new one has a small gap between the mast base and extrusion, looks like the rivets started pulling, and the holes are slightly deformed. Looks like they added a couple zinc sheet metal screws to help keep it secured. A cleat also needs replaced on the new one. The '84 has the three hole tang, the '72 has one hole. I added another set of trap wires last summer. The shackle is a bit crowded, all wires being on the same shackle, however I never had any issues. I was going to add two smaller shackles to the main shackle for the trap wires and use the old mast, but I've read that the single hole tangs elongate and break over time. Mine doesn't have any elongation, should I continue to use it, go with the newer mast and try to fix it, or retrofit the 3-hole mast tang onto the old mast?

Sounds to me like you have a run it till it breaks situation! AND you already have a spare mast you can make ready to go.

I don't believe there is any real benefit for you to switch masts if you already have the shackles sorted out and it works.

I am in a similar situation where my original mast has a slight bend above the tang and I have 2 other masts. An all aluminum and a comptip. I keep threatening my boat that I am going to switch the mast but she keeps on making me smile as is!

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84 14T Redline #67 Blue Hawaii faded but still working!
82 Yellow hull16 '81 Boomer nationals 20.9 on GPS
83 White hull 16 No sails "Clean and Purty Now!"
87 White hull no sails no tramp

Keep the old one, if it's that nice, you can add a 14 mast tang for the trap wires.

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Buxton
18' T16 Silent Lightning (16' T2 Hybrid)
11' H16 White Lightning
79' H16 Green Lightning

Good points, I really didn't want to spend the time restore the newer mast anyway, kind of anxious to get back on the water! The trap has only been in use for a couple years now, so the tang looks brand new. I will just keep an eye on it from time to time. I will probably order the rivets & caps to have on hand for the three hole tang, maybe that will be a winter time project.