Open frame vs bottle style turnbuckles for standing rigging

[waterman46]

Open frame, always better. You can inspect and lubricate threads. Closed body traps salt water and corrodes lower threads. And open body provides nice place to tie fenders, secute halyards, anything else. Same goes for lifeline turnbuckles.

[jhulmer]

I have the bronze bottle style that are, i believe, original to the boat making them over 40 years old. They are in excellent working order and appearance. I have replaced a number of the stainless toggle screws and I reassemble them with tefgel.



The riggers don't like them for valid reason mentioned above but with an occasional maintenance check by inspecting the stainless toggle screws and giving the screws a turn or two back and forth, I think they are fine.



I really like the fact that they have jam nuts to lock the threads and are smooth in form, don't require tape and can't hook a sail.



Also, I just think they're sexy on a boat with a clipper bow.


my 2 cents worth,
Jim