Deadeyes vs turnbuckles

[benz]

Can a deadeye-and-lanyard setup tension a shroud as effectively as a turnbuckle? If so, why do so many boats use turnbuckles instead? I'd like to put deadeyes on my 31' gaff cutter, but still don't know enough to feel entirely comfortable doing so.
Thanks!

[Matthew Sebring]

First let me say that this isn't a qualified answer - just a general one. I have no personal experience with deadeyes. That said - I imagine it all comes down to the right tool for the job. Compared to turnbuckles deadeyes are more traditional looking, inherently more flexible, heavier, and until recently unsuited to more modern building materials and techniques. A turnbuckle is a simple yet hell-for-stout method of tensioning cable which provides for ease of attachment (swage fittings) and ease of adjustment. Rigging a deadeye to a cable requires more complicated techniques and the materials available to reeve and adjust them just haven't been strong enough (until recently) to stand up to the demands of modern rigs. However, with the advent of high-mod lines there is a new home for deadeyes as all cordage rigging once again hits the water. Seems both have their place, it's just a matter of which is appropriate for the application at hand. With a gaff cutter the deadeyes should certainly look the part but you have to be sure to weigh your building materials, your maintenance concerns, and the practicality of each type when making your decision.

[benz]

Thanks, Matthew. While keeping a traditional look is important to me, it is not my paramount concern. I plan to cruise long-range with my family, so I'm also looking for simplicity and durability; I want to have no piece of equipment that I can't easily replace myself in some remote corner of the globe. If I went with deadeyes, I would have them machined from aluminum or cast in bronze, with high-modulus line lanyards. Likewise, my mast and spars will be aluminum--in short, I want all the simplicity, beauty and usefulness of tradition, with the strength and durability of modern materials. So as long as the strength and usefulness (and cost) of deadeyes is comparable to that of turnbuckles, I'll gladly go with them, not only to look better. but to save myself from bringing a huge cable cutter in case I should get dismasted and have to chop the rig free.
Ben

[Jack]

I am just now rigging a backstay with these deadeyes to replace the turnbuckles and all. I am very impressed with quality and all....


http://www.precourt.ca/

[benz]

I had heard someone was doing modern deadeyes, but hadn't found the website; thanks for posting it, Jack. I wonder if wire can be spliced to those deadeyes....it is still far cheaper than synthetic HM rope, and I worry about UV degradation in the tropics.
Are you having to put the lanyard on a winch to tighten it up, or is pulling by hand enough?
Thanks again!

[Jack]

Try this for some more to read on. From what I can gather it is very good UV wise. I am just now working on getting my first splices to look how I would like, I have not yet tightened anything up but I will let you know. We have a number of projects starting here as the intrest is growing in replacing parts of rigging.

http://www.hampidjan.is/products/rop...ging/index.asp

In looking for that link I ran into this one, I did not know it was even written, these are photos of our fishing boat and some of the netting stuff.......

http://www.hampidjan.is/news/items/060628/index.asp