One way of attaching a boom vang or preventer to the boom is to use a "boom Bail" as illustrated on page 1238 of the 2008 West Marine annual catalog. The listings even give the size of fastner needed to through bolt it to the boom. My M17 uses a "boom Bail" on the boom and an eye at the base of the mast (attached to a piece of aluminum tube in the track by self tapping screws. The vang tackle has a pelican hook at either end so it can be quickly removed or move to the perforated toe rail as a preventer. Ron M17 #14 Griselda _________________________________________________________________ Earn cashback on your purchases with Live Search - the search that pays you back! http://search.live.com/cashback/?&pkw=form=MIJAAF/publ=HMTGL/crea=earncashba...