Either Or
I just installed a CDI FF2 on my MAC 25 a few weeks ago. Took the precaution to purchase a complete forestay from Sail Warehouse. Cost 109 bucks, but was gauranteed to fit my boat. It has a swaged eye at the top and an open faced turnbuckle at the bow-end. Either way, at the halyard swivel end of the foil (top part) closest to the mast, there is about two or three inches clearance from the eye&pin plate mounted on the mast ... but all that is determined by the sail clothe dimension that will wrap itself on the foil. If I ain't mistaken it is the length of the forestay minus one and one quarter foot. That will be the length of the foil extrusion after you cut it. But part of that will be taken up by the length of the turnbuckle as well. So the important thing to remember to jot down is the length of the forestay once you finished cutting it. It should be the measurement from anchor pin to anchor pin. Nothing like installing the forestay and then trying to send up a tape measure to measure it because it ain't easy.So it seems to me whichever method would work okay. If you choose a nicopressed thimble than a swivel/eye type, I couldn't see where the difference would matter. Especially since the forestay is first mounted to the mast end with the remaining end free to slide through the flexible foil extrusion before mounting to the drum assembly and turnbuckle. I would say 'go for it!But a word of caution on the shortening of your new forestay; Measure twice and cut once. Same applies to the extrusion. I strongly recommend going over the manual a number of times so as to get yourself well acqainted with the operation. And above all, pick a friend to help you do this and make certain you have plenty of time. Mine took longer than I anticipated (nearly all day), because I had to read and re-read every step to make certain there would be no mistakes.Good luck 'ol buddy.Tom