Hollow masts are good but expensive (unless you make you own) the real saving is a solid mast - 1 tree, 1 chain saw, 1 adze + 1 mast. I watched a friend make one for 40 morcombe bay prawner, most expensive part of the job was getting it transported from the forest!!. Mantainance was a anual coat of creasote. You doo ALWAYS need to check the design as solid masts are significantly heavier then alloy so can adversly effect stability. With a hollow mast you need to know what the max wt should be and build it under that. As far as the galvanised rigging goes no reason you can't use it on alloy or wooden masts. The only advantage S/S has is cosmentic and Clean because it doen't need treating.