1) A bungee cord is splice by doubling back on itself to form and eye, and then secureing by a metal clip called a 'hog ring' or by 'clapping' on a seizing - the latter is our prefered method.
2) A stemball eye dropped into the aft stemball socket on an isomat spreader base will not allow a fair lead to the running backstay as so may (likely?) crack the cast aluminum spreader base
3) The system you suggest for runner retracting may work, however bungee cord has a very short life when exposed to UV - i will suggest that instead of some bungee and blocks aloft, you set up a deck lead retracting system.
This is usually done by securing a small single blocks to the base of the aft lower shrouds (or a seperate block on deck) and leading a line from the runner working end, through this block near the chainplates, then back to the cockpit with a cam cleat, clutch or horn cleat. These allow you to set and deploy the runners from the cockpit, work without fail, and are strong enough to hold your runners even if they are of cable.
as HE says, Fair Leads!
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Brian Duff
BVI Yacht Sales, Tortola
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