Bronze vs. Stainless Turnbuckles

Dean Abramson · Post by **Dean Abramson** » Feb 13th, '11, 19:31

I asked my rigger to replace my standing rigging. I said "just give me a new version of what I already have."

I went by to see the rig/mast, and the turnbuckles he used are stainless, not bronze, like I had had. **

I really like the guy and the company he works for, so I am not inclined to make an issue of this. If I do, they will probably get me bronze, and stick to their price, but will no doubt take a $ hit if that happens. I think the price is quite fair, so I hate to see them take a hit. But I am wondering, should I let this go? And if not, why?

I see some info about SS turnbuckles and galling. On the other hand, it seems like lots of good boats do have SS turnbuckles.

I have no doubt I can get some opinions on this, so please chime in if you have one.

One good sailing buddy of mine says just fuggeddaboutit.

Dean

** Why does this sort of thing always happen to me? No, I did not say "bronze turnbuckles," specifically, but I thought my instructions were clear, and that I would wind up with Spartan bronze turnbuckles...

Also, is this really mainly just about appearance?

fenixrises · Post by **fenixrises** » Feb 13th, '11, 19:43

Hi all,

I prefer the SS forged "T" ends with strap toggles on forged bronze bodies. No gauling that way.

But to help prevent gauling with SS to SS threads I have found that teflon pipe dope, available at any hardware store, is great. This is the paste stuff not the tape. Made by Rector Seal and at least one other company, probably also generic store brands are available.

I use it on my turnbuckles and anywhere there are SS to SS threads such as nuts and bolts. This is especially useful on SS fittings bigger than 1/4" dia. It also works very well when using SS fasteners on aluminum masts and booms.

Fittings attached to Fenix's mast and boom where still easily removable after three years.

Take care,
Fred

Maine Sail · Post by **Maine Sail** » Feb 13th, '11, 19:55

Dean,

A rigger often knows that the chrome plated turnbuckles are chrome plated bronze. These, in the rigging world are often referred to as "bronze" turnbuckles because they are just chrome plated bronze. What you want are 100% bronze self colored turnbuckles.

John Vigor · Post by **John Vigor** » Feb 13th, '11, 23:05

Dean, if I were you, I'd tell him to supply you with bronze turnbuckles and offer to pay the difference in price.

It's called biting the bullet, and its unfair, but you know you really want bronze and it will bug you the rest of your life if you get stainless. Cape Dory means quality and quality means bronze. And you have a Cape Dory. Years from now you won't remember the extra cost for bronze, but you'll still be regretting it if you get stainless.

Cheers and commiserations,

John V.

Sea Hunt · Post by **Sea Hunt** » Feb 13th, '11, 23:44

Dean:

I would ask the rigger why he installed SS instead of bronze when what he removed was bronze. If he has a reasonable, logical explanation then you may want to adopt JV's suggestion of paying the difference to get bronze turnbuckles. However you arrive at it and regardless of who ends up paying for them, the end result should be bronze turnbuckles. As others have said, it is after all a Cape Dory sailboat.

Clay Stalker · Post by **Clay Stalker** » Feb 14th, '11, 08:16

I'm with John V. on this one Dean.

Cathy Monaghan · Post by **Cathy Monaghan** » Feb 14th, '11, 13:09

Dean Abramson wrote:I asked my rigger to replace my standing rigging. I said "just give me a new version of what I already have."

I went by to see the rig/mast, and the turnbuckles he used are stainless, not bronze, like I had had. **........

Dean..........

Are you sure they're not chrome-plated bronze turnbuckles? I'd confirm that first. And if you didn't specifically ask for bronze replacements, then you can't really fault the guy. Anyway, if they are chrome-plated bronze, then you've got bronze. One of the popular manufacturers is Hayn Marine, even West Marine sells their stuff and they carry both their bronze and chrome-plated bronze turnbuckles. If they're not the chrome-plated bronze, then apologize for not being more specific and politely ask him to replace the new SS turnbuckles for bronze turnbuckles. If you want Spartan bronze turnbuckles, then ask for them specifically.

http://www.hayn.com/marine/rigging/tfb.html

Cathy
CD32 Realization, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay

Dean Abramson · Post by **Dean Abramson** » Feb 14th, '11, 15:40

The rigger is gone for the next few weeks, so I cannot ask him if they are plated bronze. In any event, I think that John V is clairvoyant, because yeah, I probably will not want to live with what the rigger gave me.

But I am mystified. I said "give me the same as what I've currently got." (I think that that is an exact direct quote.) What I had then was SS cable of certain sizes, and bronze turnbuckles of certain sizes. Why is it naive to expect that I would get the same as what I had?

I am confident that we will work this out just fine and remain friends. And I am sure that next time, I will indeed be more specific!

Dean

Dick Spangler · Post by **Dick Spangler** » Feb 14th, '11, 19:51

Dean,

Do they mfr stainless steel turnbuckles? I can't find any at Defender. I'm thinking they are all chromed bronze or unplated bronze.

Dean Abramson · Post by **Dean Abramson** » Feb 14th, '11, 20:01

Do they mfr stainless steel turnbuckles? I can't find any at Defender. I'm thinking they are all chromed bronze or unplated bronze.

Heck if I know. They are silver, and I took them to be stainless.

When the rigger gets back, I will get to the bottom of it. At West Marine anyway, there is no real price difference between the plated and not, so hopefully this will be an easy thing for us to resolve.

Dean

Dick Spangler · Post by **Dick Spangler** » Feb 14th, '11, 20:11

Cathy,

Looking at their website, I don't see that Spartan makes turnbuckles.

bottomscraper · Post by **bottomscraper** » Feb 15th, '11, 09:09

Do they mfr stainless steel turnbuckles?

Yes but open body SS TB's aren't very common. Suncor makes
them. (check Bosun Supply, Hamilton Marine). Those horrible
closed body SS tubular TB's unfortunatly are common.

Dean, I'm thinking they are most probably chromed bronze also.

I don't think Spartan makes TB's anymore either, the printed
catalog I have #15 doesn't show them and I don't see them
online either.

Dean Abramson · Post by **Dean Abramson** » Feb 15th, '11, 09:16

My search seems to confirm that also. Maybe they never did make TBs; I just assumed that the originals were Spartan.

My guess is that I will wind up with Hayn un-plated bronze.

Cathy Monaghan · Post by **Cathy Monaghan** » Feb 15th, '11, 13:23

Dick Spangler wrote:Cathy,

Looking at their website, I don't see that Spartan makes turnbuckles.

Oh, well -- products come, products go. At least I thought that they used to make turnbuckles too. Anyway, I'd be very specific about what I want, that way everybody's happy.

Cathy

Cathy Monaghan · Post by **Cathy Monaghan** » Feb 15th, '11, 14:23

Dean Abramson wrote:My search seems to confirm that also. Maybe they never did make TBs; I just assumed that the originals were Spartan.

My guess is that I will wind up with Hayn un-plated bronze.

Dean,

You can check to see if they are Hayn Marine turnbuckles, but it'll require that you get down on your hands and knees on the deck of your boat, and if you're vision is anything like mine, you may need a magnifying glass as well (but you shouldn't). Hayn stamps their hardware with their logo. It looks like this:

<a href="http://home.comcast.net/~c_m_monaghan/m ... igging.jpg" target="_blank"><img width="600" src="http://home.comcast.net/~c_m_monaghan/m ... g.jpg"></a>

Look for it on the toggles if not on the turnbuckles themselves.

-Cathy

The Cape Dory Board

Bronze vs. Stainless Turnbuckles

Bronze vs. Stainless Turnbuckles

Bite the bullet

Bronze

Re: Chrome-plated bronze....

Don't know

Stainless Steel Turnbuckles

Good question

Spartan Turnbuckles?

Hayn

Re: Spartan Turnbuckles?

Re: Hayn