replacing in-mast furling rig

Okay. So I've restored an old Jeanneau Sun Legende. New cored side decks, etc. It came with an in-mast furler, I have appreciated its ease of use but without any backstay or headstay adjustment the main is dreadful on a beat and really, with its lightweight folding spreaders and what have you, I have little confidence in the thing, particularly in a blow.

But as mainly a gulf cruiser I guess I have been mostly happy to just live with the thing. Until now.

I am considering swapping the mast out for a significant piece of kit off a wrecked Standfast 40. Rig, sails, hyd backstay, vang etc. I would need to convert to keel stepped, the mast is way over sized, and I would be adding 1m mast height above deck., The mast section is say 30% wider than existing, very solid with similar twin spreader design..

The sun legende 41 was originally designed and built with keel stepped mast, deck stepped options became available later. So I reasoned that both hull and deck had the integrity to swap to a keel step setup. The boat has significant hull strength and offers fwd, lower and cap design support suitable for the stick, My plan was to make a 12mm plate that would lie across three ribs, with welded saddles through bolted and epoxied to ribs, and secure an adjustable mast step to this,

In defence of this crazy notion
1. I am buying mainsail, genoa, mast, boom, hydraulic backstay and vang, cheap. All in great order
2. Although much smaller in width, the furling mast is likely just as heavy?
3. The rig will be well supported by new fwd and aft lowers, lose the baby stay.
4. The boat is already tender. I am hoping that with forestay and backstay adjustment I will be able to control the new rig better and should see a good improvement in performance.

Obviously, a new tapered mast would be great but I'm not spending that sort of money. Any comments appreciated

 

A heavier mast will not help if the boat is already tender. You should take off weight if possible.

 

Thanks Gonzo. Agree totally, but I put the perceived tenderness down to a heavy furling mast, flogged out batten-less main and zero control over headstay, backstay. The sun legende 41 was never inherently tender, the opposite in fact particularly the regatta version with lead keel. (mine is cast iron).
With the new (to me) hydraulic backstay I think I could solve a lot of my problems, moreso if I was to buy a new mainsail.

This option to purchase stick, boom, sails etc in one lot however really excites me, IF the standfast sail plan and rig will work. Structurally, I think I'm good. However if the centres of stability and drive are significantly altered I might be in a world of pain. I think/hope not. Sure, I may have to reef a little earlier but pointing and control should improve?
Admit the stanfast carried more lead, but I'd like to think I could strap more weight to keel later if so?
Cheers