Turnbuckles - Stainless v Galvanised

[CPD]

I am about to replace all the turnbuckles on the standing rigging on my centaur. What are the pro's and con's of stainless v galavanised, are they as strong as each other etc or is it just down to aesthetics. All other fittings are currently, and will remain, stainless. Thanks for your help as ever.

 

[john_morris_uk]

You've missed out the best solution: Stainless threads and Bronze bodies. The bronze is normally plated to look like stainless. Bronze bodies because it stops the possibility of galling of the stainless threads in stainless bodies.

From memory s/s and (galvanised) steel are similar in strength. Someone will correct me if I am wrong.

 

[jeanne]

SS is about 50 % stronger than galvanised, my figures say a 1/2 " SS bottlescrew is between 10,000 and 13,000 lbs , not sure if that is SWL or breaking strain, and galv is 7,700 lbs.
I still went for galv, by going up a size to 5/8 ", it was still vastly cheaper than SS. It has done well, but has a few other issues apart from strength. You cannot easily galvanise threads, so they are left without it, and unless they are greased and taped , the threads will rust and look terrible. After a few years the whole thing will start to look its age. I have changed mine once, after about 10 years use, for that reason. They are heavier than SS, and if you have gone up a size, they are longer, so one cannot just change to SS when you can afford it, as the rigging is too short.
On the other hand they are honest, and will not fail without notice, and are not prone to seizing up, which SS are. That is why people recommend bronze ones, as they don´t do that.

 

[FAITIRA]

[ QUOTE ]
I am about to replace all the turnbuckles on the standing rigging on my centaur. What are the pro's and con's of stainless v galavanised, are they as strong as each other etc or is it just down to aesthetics. All other fittings are currently, and will remain, stainless. Thanks for your help as ever.

[/ QUOTE ]

I would stick with the stainless myself, I think, though they look fine on an appropriate boat, galvanised will look a bit industrial on a Centaur. Jeanne,s point about the length is very significant too.