The under-deck portion of the aft lowers is very important! I replaced all the standing rigging at one point but neglected (forgot) the below-deck section of wire. It failed on a windy day, and I was very lucky not to blow a hole in the deck and/or lose the rig.

I have replaced the below-deck section with 1/4" kevlar. This is easy, inexpensive, and longer-lasting than steel wire.

The 1/4" kevlar has eye-splices at each end, is doubled over for twice the strength (much stronger than the fasteners, aft lowers themselves, etc), and tightened with spectra lashing. I had one person stand on the deck when I tightened them--they've probably settled in a bit since then.

I have back-to-back folding pad-eyes mounted on the deck (one above deck for the aft lower to connect to; one below deck for the kevlar support). There is an eye-strap attached to the seatback support, spreading the load across two 10-24 bolts.

I've posted a photo of this arrangement in the "Deck & Rigging Photos" photo album (currently the last picture in the album).

Single-strand eye-splices like this are easy and fun, or your local rigger can easily whip one of these up for you.

--brendan