vang rod kicker

Can I suggest you look at the stainless steel gas struts. Nitro Lift do a whole range, as do ther suppliers, beware poor quality Chinese supply.

 I dont us a gas strut just an old fashioned spring strut. 

I always set the kicker up to push the boom up when all the sail and stack pack rest on boom. I fit a powerful cascade pulley system kicking system controlled from cockpit to pull down against the strut lift and tension  the main sail, controling luff tension and sail twist. This gives fullest control of mainsail, especialy in light winds, were without strut lift the boom weight inhibits enough sail twist stalling the top of sail. 

Perry [yacht Bloto Hanse 315]

East Cowes

 Isle of Wight