Spectra for lanyards? Epee deadeyes?

[josef Taylor]

I've been thinking about installing deadeyes and lanyards on a 54' gaff ketch, but buying deadeyes is prohibitively expensive when there are so many more deserving projects. My brother has offered to make the eyes out of epee for free, so I'm jumping on the bandwagon. does anybody have experience using this wood for said purpose? I'm assuming I can find information about sizing in The Book, but perhaps they could be larger or smaller, given the material?
Also, anybody have experience using spectra for lanyards? I was thinking it'd be cool, given spectra's low stretch (after creep) and slippery-ness, requiring less vaseline and tackle for adjustment, as well as the UV resistance. my only question (other than unforseen problems) is dead ending the stuff. A mathew walker would look cool, but I'm not sure it'd be wide enough- they tend to get tall with more strands, not wide. I don't want to put landings on the rail, because I don't like the wood our bulwarks are made of, and I don't want the hole in case some future rigging bos'n wants the turnbuckles again.
Also, we wouldn't need the rope diameter with spectra, so the deadeyes could be smaller, right?