Topband: To short or not short unused coil turns

[WD8DSB at aol.com]

Typically I see comments that unused coil turns should be shorted, but  
logic tells me that for maximum coil efficiency unused coil turns should not be 
 shorted unless the application of unused turns results in the generation 
of  excess voltage which then creates an arc or spark.
 
I am building a remotely controlled base loading coil box for my 53 foot  
160 meter vertical, and during prototype testing I have not experienced any  
problems running with the unused coil turns not shorted, but now that I am 
hard  wiring the final version of my box I thought I would like some feedback 
from  others regarding this topic.  The coil is also used to run the 
antenna on  80 meters and have not had any difficulty with arcing when not 
shorting the  unused turns.
 
Please comment on my belief that unused turns should not be shorted unless  
arcing occurs.
 
Thanks,
Don Kirk (wd8dsb)