Hi Al,

The line, (or lines, I have one on each side of the boom) are fixed to the boom when not in use. They could either be cleated, or held taught using elastomer cord... I have stainless rings at the end of the lines about 18" aft of the gooseneck, and simply hook them on to the stretchy stuff which keeps them reasonably taut alongside the boom...

the second part of the preventer has a snap shackle which clips onto the ring, then runs outside the stanchions to a block forward, and back to the cockpit...

That line is also connected to another line at the shackle, which is led aft, outside the stanchions as well... this setup remains rigged all the time, on each side of the boat, and also serves as a whisker or spinnaker pole foreguy and afterguy, ready to go at any time... I find this arrangement to work extremely well, and of course a preventer will always be on the opposite side of the pole...

It's when you start fiddling with stuff like this, that one comes to fully appreciate that the perforated aluminum toerail is one of the greatest inventions known to man... (grin)

best regards,

Jon