When I get the answer to this I will finally know everything.
What is the purpose of cotter pins in rigging turnbuckles?
They don't prevent the turnbuckle turning or set the adjustment. (Are they supposed to?)
They provide nice sharp edges often covered in tape. (A side benefit?)
I guess they prevent a bored child from taking the mast off your boat ("See, Timmy, that's why the cotter pin is there...")
No doubt I have missed the obvious explanation for 70 years or so.
What is the purpose of cotter pins in rigging turnbuckles?
They don't prevent the turnbuckle turning or set the adjustment. (Are they supposed to?)
They provide nice sharp edges often covered in tape. (A side benefit?)
I guess they prevent a bored child from taking the mast off your boat ("See, Timmy, that's why the cotter pin is there...")
No doubt I have missed the obvious explanation for 70 years or so.
Last edited: