Any thoughts on why this is corroding?

Jul 7, 2024
59
Catalina 27 Lake Keowee
Turnbuckle from CatalinaDirect - should be stainless steel.
Mechanics wire - I thought stainless. Maybe not. Maybe zinc plated since only corrosion is where bends might have been made?
Inland lake.

I ordered some stainless mechanics wire.

Any alternate thoughts are appreciated.

turnbuckle_wire.jpg
 
Jun 17, 2022
268
Hunter 380 Comox BC
Wrong type of wire... Never seen a turnbuckle locked like that.... use monel wire or 316 tig welding rod.

We're the threads lubricated before fitting the turnbuckle?
 
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Tedd

.
Jul 25, 2013
791
TES 246 Versus Bowser, BC
Stainless wire is often 18-8 or 304, which aren't as corrosion-resistant as 316 (which the turnbuckle is probably made of). I think you can also get a little bit of galvanic reaction between them in a salt-water environment.
 
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Jan 11, 2014
13,052
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
Stainless wire is often 18-8 or 304, which aren't as corrosion-resistant as 316 (which the turnbuckle is probably made of). I think you can also get a little bit of galvanic reaction between them in a salt-water environment.
That works, except the OP is on freshwater.

SS is still an iron product and I believe there can be residual iron on the surface of the SS that will rust. 18-8 and 304 can exhibit this. I'm sure a metallurgist could provide a much more in-depth explanation.

Not all SS rigging is 316. On freshwater boats 304 is often used which is more prone to showing rust stains.
 
Jun 2, 2004
3,566
Hunter 23.5 Fort Walton Yacht Club, Florida
It maybe stainless-steel safety wire, just not a high grade of stainless steel.

I'm trying to figure out the safety wire routing and I am baffled. It would certainly do the job but so would a simple loop or even a figure eight on each of the studs. I must be missing something.
 
Mar 26, 2011
3,748
Corsair F-24 MK I Deale, MD
The Catalina web site says the threads inside the turnbuckle are bronze to prevent seizing. They are chromed for appearance. The corrosion is at the first coupling after the stud leaves the bronze threads.

Common and harmless.