One of my instructors was also out sailing with his granddaughter, and told me to wrap my forearms around the daggerboard instead of using my very exhausted fingers to climb it.
Much easier but quite bruising on a 62 yr. old.
Laugh away but I did really learn a lot.
Where's the Tylenol?
The mast (and spars) barely float their own weight when dry. What you gain by sealing is not lifting water weight while raising the boat from 90° to upright. Underwater, a water filled mast becomes only the weight of the aluminum since water submerged in water is neutral.If the mast didn't take on water in the first place, would it resist turtling a lot more?
I don't know if this applys to you but if you have a drain in the transom (I have an aftermarket drain here) make sure it is closed TIGHT!!!