Idea for turnbuckle cotter pins

davidpm · #1 (**permalink**) 12-08-2009

How to secure cotter pins in turnbuckles seems to evoke a range of advice.
Most people insert the cotter pin. bend the legs back and cover with rigger tape.
Some people say the tape encourages crevice corrosion and makes them hard to inspect. They recommend to tape but bending the legs back and around far enough so they will not catch on sails.

I just saw another way.
The sailor had a piece of Velcro about 6" long and 3/4" wide. Pushed through the end of Velcro and the head sewn in with sailor's thread was fixed a cotter pin. The legs were left straight.
The way it was used is that the pin is put in the turnbuckle hole. The Velcro was wrapped around the turnbuckle. The pin could not fall out due to the circle of Velcro. It was loose enough to drain water. It is easy to remove to inspect.
What do you think?

amarinesurveyor · #2 (**permalink**) 12-08-2009

I don't think it is as secure as a cotter pin. With time the ends of the cotter pin will chafe through the velcro that is deteriorating from the UV in sunlight.
What's wrong with a simple cotter pin? and no need to tape it if you direct the pointy ends inboard and bend them back. Keep it simple stu... ;-)
Brian

tommays · #3 (**permalink**) 12-08-2009

I race on a lot of boats EVERYBODY uses TAPE they don't make cocoons around it and they don't have issues as most of the taped areas take such a beating it gets redone a few times a year.

When your running jib sheets and spinnaker sheets and guys and 4 halyards stuff gets caught on stuff

NateCP16 · #4 (**permalink**) 12-08-2009

There is a commercially available velcro-type product that is popular with the trailer sailing crowd.

Wrap Pins
West Marine: Wrap Pins for Turnbuckles Product Display

sailortjk1 · #5 (**permalink**) 12-08-2009

Also popular with the racing crowd that adjust and tune a lot.

mitiempo · #6 (**permalink**) 12-08-2009

I agree the velcro isn't as secure as a cotter pin being bent. But they should only be bent about 15 degrees, not 180. The other solution is to use split rings. As far as tape, just around the cotter pin not the whole turnbuckle. Another solution is a dab of silicone on the cotter pin end. One of the few uses for silicone on a boat.

sailortjk1 · #7 (**permalink**) 12-08-2009

Do you have first hand knowledge of the product in the link?
Properly installed, they work fine and are very convenient for fine tuning and retuning.

mitiempo · #8 (**permalink**) 12-08-2009

No, but I wouldn't trust my rig to a strip of velcro. I like secured cotter pins.

davidpm · #9 (**permalink**) 12-08-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by NateCP16

There is a commercially available velcro-type product that is popular with the trailer sailing crowd.

Wrap Pins
West Marine: Wrap Pins for Turnbuckles Product Display

That's exactly what it was. I thought it was home made. Thanks.

tommays · #10 (**permalink**) 12-09-2009

As the guy checking the tape Those would be toast in a one hour 4 leg W/L race as the Velcro will snag sheets and get tugged