Boom Vang sizing

[Keith]

Skip, thanks for sharing your use of the mast slot for securing the bottom of the vang.  A bale at the mast base appears to be the standard method, but I was considering installing a sturdy eye strap (bent slightly to fit the profile of the spar) across the mast slot  down near the deck.  My thinking is that this would give a slightly better down angle on the boom and still allow the fiddle block to rotate with the boom.   

Someone else used a piece of aluminum stock in the mast slot with an eye strap thru-bolted through it and the mast (as I understand the description).  This seem a little more complicated.

Not sure exactly what kind of loads to expect so any thoughts on the viability of this attachment method are appreciated.  Maybe too much "up" force on a horizontally mounted eye?

Cheers,

Keith