Thanks for the replies so far. All that info has been helpful. Also, I just found out I lied! I did find a milk crate loaded with lines and blocks had slid back in the quarter berth. Let me explain a little more about what I am doing. I got this boat reasonably (I think) because it needs a mast (it looks like it fell or was dropped). I'm also new to sailing, so all the terms and parts are new to me although I've been reading like crazy and trying to put together what I read with what I see. (I did join a club for this coming year, and have some people to mentor me, but they have not seen the M17 yet, nor are they intimately familiar with the M-17 rigging. That said, when I get the new mast, I'd like to incorporate any changes that should be done at that time. I'm within driving distance of Dwyer, so I'll go out there with my mast and get the new one ordered. My boom has a gooseneck that slides in the mast slot. Once inserted in the widened area, it can slide up or down; what is the correct place for the boom on the mast, and what keeps it there? And what holds the back of the boom up with the sail down or reefed? Was there originally a topping lift to the masthead? The aft end of my boom has a short piece of line that is long enough to reach the ring in the backstay arrangement; maybe they tied it there?The gooseneck appears to have a spot for the tack, a reefing hook, and an eyelet on the bottom. My mainsail has slugs/slides on the luff, and a boltrope on the foot. I've read of people having trouble with the slugs coming out of the opening in it's stock position, and I'm wondering if there is a better spot to have the opening machined. And speaking of a new mast, I assume I should stay with the same length if I'm using the same sails? My mast is 21'4" (extrusion only, not including masthead). I want to get new standing rigging too, so this would be the time to make any changes. My rigging seems to be the original style with oval swage sleeves. I might stay with that style unless there is a good reason to change it all over. I took a series of photos in order to clarify and ask some more specific questions; is there a good way to share them with the list? Are you all on the FB group? Thanks again!Gerry