Bronze Turnbuckles
Hi Brian,,,, I use and very much like (Love) my bronze 1/2" J to J turnbuckles,,,,, they are hard to find, but I perfer them over any thing stainless.
I purchased my 28' BCC in Honolulu, circa 1996, and the existing ss turnbuckles had a "T" bolt stud on the bottom, and a wrap around toggle that was clevis pinned to ss chainplates.
The pre-purchase surveyer stated in his report to replace all ss structural rigging, as it was over 10 years old, and constantly used in tropical waters.
It wasn't until after I pulled the stick, and was micro polishing the ss chainplate clevis pin hole areas, that I found "spider-web" type cracks eminating from the clevis pin holes, and going outward to the edges of the chainplates.
Obviously, that surveyor knew his business,,, The folded over the "T" stud ss toggle , had been contributing to crevis corrosion on the chainplate, which wasn't noticed until it's removal and subsequent polishing of the chainplates.
The Surveyor had a bench mark,,,, any ss structural fitting used continously in tropical marine environment, over 10 years old, should be replaced,,,,, after this example, on my own boat,,,, I can agree with him !
I found that the folded over ss "T" stud toggle, could very possibly, create a corrosion problem,,,, in that it allowed salt water to linger around the chainplate clevis pin hole, without draining,,,, and that "stagnant salt water" , caused an electrolysis which resulted in the crevis corrosion , I noticed , after that survey.
I concluded at that point to not use "T" bolt ss stud-to toggle system any more, because I could not easily inspect the chain plates for cracks, with them in place.
OK , I also changed the ss chainplates to Bronze ones cast by Pete Langly, of PT Foundry,,,, thinking that I was building in a "reserve of neglect", that I think Brion would approve of !
I have found that the marriage of bronze and ss is a good one for me,,,, ie: ss clevis pin and a bronze toggle,,,, that does give me, in my opinion, a reserve of neglect !
Douglas, S/V Calliste
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