Hello,
Let's see, I'll start with deadeyes. Go to
http://precourt.ca/ for a look at the finest aluminum deadeyes you are likely to encounter. Beautiful things. Or try Port Townsend Foundry for some equally exquisite bronze ones. Don't use blocks, as they can't be as strong, and will likely deform in the bearings anyway.
Many traditional boats usedeadeyes or hearts to tension stays, including bobstays (hearts are a sort of open-body deadeye. On the stays, to get the tack of the sail down close to the sprit, mast, or deck, the wire is commonly led through a fairlead, and thence to the deadeyes or hearts.
People use chain bobstays primarily to keep the rode from chafing the bobstay, and this chafe can be completely avoided by leading the snubber to the end of the bowsprit (see the "Apprentice"), which also makes for more efficient anchoring. Putting the stem fitting up at a sane height, and/or installing a sacrificial linkplate at the bottom end precludes chafe from most other sources. Chain is heavy, noisy, and doesn't give enough warning of failure.
As for eliminating turnbuckles, it's usually easy to do on bobstays, as these are never adjusted; just get the length and size right, and it will be tensioned by the jibstay and backstay. I've also dispensed at times with turnbuckles on the jibstay, springstay, triatic, maintopmast stay, and queen stay. It takes careful measuring and fabrication, but the result is a significantly lighter ó and lighter-looking ó stay. Cheaper, too.
Whoa, that's too many disparate topics for one thread. Come on, guys, feel free to start new ones!
Fair leads,
Brion Toss