Used 45ft on mine (standard blocks) based on info from Salty Dog Marine and it's maybe 5ft short with traveler and main all out.

For me it depends on where on the boat I am at the time. If Im near the rear crossbar I can simply slide down the tramp with boom usually out of the ...

At times usually in light air I'll pull the boom out making sure the main is off the wind depowered.

Take a look a McMaster Carr for not only SS hardware, but all kinds of goodies. Not the cheapest around, but they have a massive inventory and excell...