After many trials I think (emphasize think) I have something that works. It is a fiddle on the boom to a fiddle on the traveler but the line that would normally be tied off on a 5:1 system goes back to a single block aft of the boom fiddle and forward to the cabin top. The trick is that the line going forward has to go under the fiddle block (between it and the boom) so some kind of trap door is necessary. I hung the fiddle block from a couple of lines one of which was attached to a ring that was attached to a padeye already on my boom 1.5 ft forward of the end of the boom (under the clew). The sheet going forward then goes through the ring.
http://l-36.com/mainsheet/boom2.jpg
Can you see something I can do better than this or anything that is wrong with it?
As I have said before, this allows 5:1 control of the main from an aft position yet effectively 2.5:1 when needed for a gybe although it will take two crew, one working the cabin top terminated end, one the aft end. There is a winch cabintop for extra power if needed.
As to the question I started with, I am using 7/16 Samson XLS.
Allen