>Are you saying handling the main and steering is not more difficult with this arrangement? How so? Isn't there a certain amount of reaching across, or backward handedness to this setup? How did you solve this problem?

An M15 cockpit is not that big. You can sit almost anywhere in the cockpit and still reach the controls -- with, perhaps, the exception of the outboard. I can sit forward, aft or middle and control main sheet, jib sheets, halyards, reef lines, tiller, etc., with little problem. For me and my admirable, the main sheet tackle was always in the way (blocking the companionway) when attached to the bridge deck, so I moved it to the end of the boom for convenience more than anything else. When combined with the boom vang, I find little difference in main sail control. Obviously, Jerry (the racer) might disagree, but I'm not a racer... in fact, I am usually the only sailor on the lake during my mid-week outings and a tenth-of-a-knot (+/-) is no big deal. As long as the slot between the main and jib is providing good lift, I'm a happy sailor.

Perhaps I should give a more complete description of my setup: The top block (w/becket) on the main sheet tackle attaches to the end of the boom with a snap shackle. The lower block is a fiddle block (w/cam cleat and becket) and attaches to the bridle on the transom with another snap shackle. I shortened the bridle until it rides just above the tiller and tied a small bowline loop in the center. The lower snap shackle attaches in the loop. A simple pull up or down sets or releases the main sheet in the cam cleat. Fine tuning the main sail is easy.

I made the boom vang with Laser dinghy vang blocks (WM p.1036). Some discussion on this net stated a preference for modern block technology, but I find these inexpensive Laser blocks work just fine. Perhaps they may wear the line more than other designs, but so what? A few feet of 1/4' line is cheap to replace every four or five years.