Shawn, Two sheets with bowline each sheet at the clew. Flailing hardware can make a mess of crew and mast not to mention getting hung up on shrouds and stays. Switch sheets end for end every time you sail and you maximize the amount of use you will get from the sheets. I use from 3/16 on up, depending on the sail and conditions - also favor non water absorbing materials. I am a bit extreme in sizing to the small side - gloves are usually needed, but it keeps me sails a flyin' in the light stuff! (I used 5/32 for my spinn. sheets at Havasu event and they handled the 15 kts we had on Sunday morning) Crew sometimes complains BUT they always make me look good! Mainsail downhaul is redundant and complicated. K.I.S.S. - I have switched from almost all cordage terminal hardware (shackles etc.) to using knots - cheap - light - fast and the way they have done it for centuries! Try tying a stopper knot (figure eight) at the end of the halyard - make sure it is tight - then pass the stopper knot thru the headboard and tie a landlubberly overhand knot in the line around the headboard cringle - make sure the overhand knot is tight at the stopper - seems like marlinspike heresy, but it works very well and will not shake out if properly done. - I use a stopper ball above the knot to prevent the halyard from falling into the mast sheave when (not "if") it gets away. Try it you might like it. Take Care, Have Fun, Go Sailing! GO In a message dated 7/7/2010 11:27:57 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time, shawn@ori.org writes: Hi: On another topic. a. What is preferred method for attaching sheets to jib cringle? 1. Single line pushed through cringle and looped back through bight? 2. Two sheets one w/ bowline through cringle, other w/ bowline through bight of first? 3. Carabiner? 4. Brunell hook? b. What size, material, and length of rope are best for M17 standard jib sheets? Cheers and thanks in advance, Shawn Boles Grey Mist (M17 #276 1978) _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats Remember, there is no privacy on the Internet! _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats Remember, there is no privacy on the Internet!