Been there,done that! We're the happy owners of our second 272, upgraded to an LE with an inboard and some whistles and bells. Our first, Stacey Marie, had the same problem you have, as did the other four members of our "fleet". O'Day used a variety of tabernacles but unfortunately never registered that the cast aluminum hinge point was Achille's heel. All of us dealt with it. If you dig deep enough you can find a replacement/upgrade (FORESPAR?), take out a second loan on the boat, and replace the offending piece. Or, you can buy an off-the-shelf tabernacle hinge--the standard two piece with two removable pins. Take the original base off and depending on your personal expertise either permanently bolt or weld them together or have a shop do it. In the process, add the new hinge (tabernacle) to the mast and cabin top. I suggest drilling the new plate to match the existing holes in the cabin top. Yes, it raises the mast. No, it doesn't require new stays. All I had to do was add a simple extension fitting to the furler attachment. With a mast crutch at the aft end, baby stays and a gin pole forward it is possible (not easy)to raise single-handed, one helper is great, two is heaven and the ink on our MEDICARE dried long ago (old farts).
Good Luck! Wish I had pix.
