A while back I read in a book that using bronze turnbuckles in place of stainless steel had some advantage, but the article didn't go into detail about why and didn't discuss side issues like whether electrolysis would be an issue. I can think of some of the typical reasons given for such a choice, such as bronze being less "brittle" than stainless, but I'd love to hear more detailed discussion of this idea. Anyone have some thoughts on using bronze turnbuckles? I notice the West Marine that serves the snooty sailing set in our neighborhood carries a lot of bronze turnbuckles while the West Marine serving the powerboaters just offers stainless, so if it's urban legend there must be a lot of us believing it...
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LOOK CLOSER
I think if you take a closer look at the turnbuckles such as the ones used for stays they are made of bronze but plated to look like stainless to match the rest of the riggin.
I think if you take a closer look at the turnbuckles such as the ones used for stays they are made of bronze but plated to look like stainless to match the rest of the riggin.
bronze vs SS
MAIN reason for using bronze turnbuckles(plated or otherwise) is because SS turnbuckles placed on SS studs gall shut in saltwater...and are extremely difficult to free up once set. Whereas Bronze to SS galls only slightly. BTW if you everf find yourself with a badly galled SS to SS situation apply a few drops of Marvel Mystery Oil three or four times over a two week period and you will find the joint will free up most of the time. DO NOT use WD-40 or like water attractors. Bronze sail hanks are preferred to SS ones because bronze being softer does not wear into the stays: much cheaper and safer to replace an occasional hank than have a stay snap underload.
MAIN reason for using bronze turnbuckles(plated or otherwise) is because SS turnbuckles placed on SS studs gall shut in saltwater...and are extremely difficult to free up once set. Whereas Bronze to SS galls only slightly. BTW if you everf find yourself with a badly galled SS to SS situation apply a few drops of Marvel Mystery Oil three or four times over a two week period and you will find the joint will free up most of the time. DO NOT use WD-40 or like water attractors. Bronze sail hanks are preferred to SS ones because bronze being softer does not wear into the stays: much cheaper and safer to replace an occasional hank than have a stay snap underload.
Bronze cleaning?
While the bronze subject is here, does anyone have any suggestions on how to clean? The crome part is worn off mine, and they have a green color now.
While the bronze subject is here, does anyone have any suggestions on how to clean? The crome part is worn off mine, and they have a green color now.
Chrome-plated bronze...
When I did some shopping at West Marine this weekend I noticed that the turnbuckles I thought were stainless were actually chrome-plated bronze, so I was beginning to think, as Dave suggested, that perhaps stainless isn't used any more for these. There is however, an article in this month's Cruising World warning people not to wrap their stainless turnbuckles with sail tape, so there must be some out there--old ones on old boats, or are any still made? Anyway, thanks to Didereaux for an explanation (is that a pseudonym indicating your encyclopedic knowledge, or your real name?
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When I did some shopping at West Marine this weekend I noticed that the turnbuckles I thought were stainless were actually chrome-plated bronze, so I was beginning to think, as Dave suggested, that perhaps stainless isn't used any more for these. There is however, an article in this month's Cruising World warning people not to wrap their stainless turnbuckles with sail tape, so there must be some out there--old ones on old boats, or are any still made? Anyway, thanks to Didereaux for an explanation (is that a pseudonym indicating your encyclopedic knowledge, or your real name?
)- Status