questions on running backstay and slab reefing set up.

[pyrofly73]

Creekmore 34' cutter

46' deck stepped isomat ng60 mast w/ spreaders at 16' and 31' feet above deck

boom is an isomat nb40

I looked up every post I could find on running backstays, but cannot find answers to what I hope is a simple question...

1.....The spreaders on my mast have cast aluminium bases. These bases have a place for stem ball fittings to go into. In theory I could use stemballs with 1-19 wire for my running backstays, but I would like to stay away from wire for this application if at all possible.

these are the options I have found

* stemball eyes, these seem to be designed to take a fork and a clevis pin. can these be machined somehow to make splicing high tech line directly to them or will this weaken them too much? Something tells me there has to be an easier approach. I also don't think I will be able to get the correct angle with the stem balls as I'm planning to take my runners all the way to the aft corners of the boat through blocks and then to a winch.

* I was looking at the oliver link (http://precourt.ca/) and really like the clean look of this, but seems very undersized for the application.

* splicing directly to the hole where the stemball is supposed to go with some sort of chaffing gear? yikes!!!!

* mast tangs... Is a tang the only way to go? I think they will be completely out of place. on this rig.

Please tell me there is something I've missed on attachment methods.

question # 2....What is the longest lasting line that can be used for the running backstay application? I am in south florida and the sun is brutal down here.

question 3... please look at the picture on this page for reference (http://www.pearsoninfo.net/36-2/isom...fy_reefing.gif)

Against the advice of some I have decided to give this reefing set up a try. I figured that my boom was designed this way and I can always go external if I'm not happy with the outcome.

the problem is that I am missing what I think is a pretty crucial part of the setup. As you can see in the picture there are fairleads immediately above the gooseneck. Rigrite has them for a crazy amount of money and they are made out of stainless steel. I was thinking of using a large nylon bullseye with a stainless insert, but I'm a little worried about the load? Should I spend the cash on these babys (http://www.colligomarine.com/Line%20...%20padeyes.htm)

what do you guys think? Is there something better?

any help or ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Xavier