Dear all,

My 2001 V 158 has the kicker attached to the rivetet eyelet on the back of the mast via a shackle and nothing else. 
Picture link:
http://vikingvareo.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/shackle.jpg

When I bought it, this is how the previous owner demonstrated the connection and this is how I have it now. This may mean a bit of strain on the 2 rivets holding the eyelet in place.

Viewing illustrations of 16:1 kickers and reading older posts on the Yahoo forum, I realise that it may be good to tie a loop/strop around the mast, through the eyelet, and then connect the shackle.

Back in 2008 Don Gray wrote:
"The strop you will need to make should travel all the way around the
mast i.e one and a half times round. You can make a nice spliced D12
strop with a loop in each end or tie a couple of bowlines in a short
piece of Spectra (Dynemma)."

In 2007 Chris Jordan wrote:
"You COULD try wrapping the rope around the mast without moving the eye, but it would be MUCH better to drill out the old fitting and put in a new fitting."

Excellent illustration of setup with eyelet on front of mast is at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RSVareo/files/Front%20Kicker%20Position/

OK. But before I start:

1. 
how important is this? do rivets often snap when the old configuration is used, without rope around the mast?

2. 
would anybody have illustrations of similar setup with older masts, where eyelet is on the back of mast.

3.
In 2007 Chris wrote: 
"I don't do splicing either! What I have done is a length that goes around the mast 3 times (I like a bit of belt and braces!). I use a figure-8 knot on the end up against the loop on the front of the mast, then around the mast, through the kicker shackle and then around the mast and through the loop again. Keep going around the mast, and then tie a figure-8 knot as the end passes through the loop for the final time."
Hmmm, would anybody have a photo of that? If I don't have to splice or move the eyelet it would be nice.

4.
In 2006 Mark Robinson wrote:
"I then discover a short length (10" of tapered rope with a small
loop at each end, lying in the bottom of the boat. Is this piece of
rope supposed to go through the saddle and round the base of the
mast to accept the the kicker shackle?"
Wow, can this double-loop rope be ordered from LDC?


Best regards