M_Boats: forestay attachment

Thanks for your input on this subject, Nebwest2. (Did your mother not like you?[?]) Seriously though, experience like yours with West Marine is quite valuable. Thanks for the warning. Being a long standing "belt and suspenders man" I will engineer a second snap shackle into my stem head operation. It will probably consist of a "lazy"snap shackle on a regular shackle bridging the loaded snap shackle. All parts will still be within easy reach and remain attached to the boat. It will require less than five seconds to use and will double the odds in my favor of not parting my bald spot with a mast. Sounds too good to pass up. Fair winds, Tom B, Mont.17 #258,'77