Open Body vs. Closed Body turnbuckles?

[labatt]

It seems like most rigging manufacturers are pushing their closed body turnbuckles these days. The newer ones feature locking mechanisms, sighting holes to ensure that you have enough thread being held, Chrome plated bronze or brass, etc. It's nice having a cotterless design. HOWEVER, I grew up with open turnbuckles. Any thoughts on pros/cons of closed turnbuckles? I'd assume one would be a higher likelihood of corrosion due to the closed environment.

I'm getting new chainplates and I figured I'd replace all the turnbuckles (which are showing some pitting) while I'm at it.

[knothead]

Originally Posted by labatt

It seems like most rigging manufacturers are pushing their closed body turnbuckles these days. The newer ones feature locking mechanisms, sighting holes to ensure that you have enough thread being held, Chrome plated bronze or brass, etc. It's nice having a cotterless design. HOWEVER, I grew up with open turnbuckles. Any thoughts on pros/cons of closed turnbuckles? I'd assume one would be a higher likelihood of corrosion due to the closed environment.

I'm getting new chainplates and I figured I'd replace all the turnbuckles (which are showing some pitting) while I'm at it.

I hate, hate, hate closed body turnbuckles of every sort. Actually, as a rigger I should love them because in my experience they fail much more often than open body turnbuckles. The bronze ones are much better than the stainless ones, but I would never buy one for myself and I wouldn't sell one to a customer unless they insisted on them and I would do so then only under protest.
The only turnbuckles worse than closed body stainless turnbuckles are the NavTec stainless turnbuckles.
Other than that I have no opinion on the subject.

[paulk]

It's obvious that in a closed turnbuckle there is no corrosion, because you can't see any. It's also obvious that with a closed turnbuckle you always have plenty of thread buried in it, because you can't see how much is engaged. Closed turnbuckles make sailing much easier: you don't have to worry about anything but how you're going to call the Coast Guard when your masthead radio antenna is pointing into the water instead of up. The answer to that one is simple: carry a handheld VHF to use whenever your mast is over the side.

[Faster]

"Thou shalt listen to Knothead"... "Thou shalt listen to Knothead".....

[labatt]

Yeah - that's what I figured... but I thought I'd see if any progress had been made. Now, if titanium was used we might be talking differently...

[Faster]

Originally Posted by labatt

Yeah - that's what I figured... but I thought I'd see if any progress had been made. Now, if titanium was used we might be talking differently...

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$:eek :

[ccriders]

Originally Posted by labatt

Yeah - that's what I figured... but I thought I'd see if any progress had been made. Now, if titanium was used we might be talking differently...

And galling. Titanium threads under load do not work out so good.
John