Here is an idea we have never understood, placing tubing over the bottom end of rigging.The concept is to eliminate chafe and provide a surface which facilitates the movement of sails and sheets when tacking. However there are several problems with this approach.

The first is a not inconsequential increase in windage. The second, far more important to us, is the difficulty in inspecting the bottom end  of the rig. Sure you can lift them up, but how many sailors actually do this when they are strolling the deck each day on a passage (you do check the rig and rigging  once a day don’t you)?

The chafe issue with the rigging screws can be dealt with using tape over the split pins.And if sail chafe on the shrouds is an issue, add chafe patches to the sail.