Lew Hodgett wrote:
I found rings to be a total waste of time.

YMMV


OK, my mileage does vary.

rhys wrote:
I use SS cotter rings on the turnbuckles because they are reusable and
easily inspected. I can also get them on and off with no tools save a
reasonably healthy thumbnail, and can delegate the job.

True, the 'reusable' and the 'no tools' parts are the key. As for
delegating, some people (such as my wife) simply cannot learn to cope
with cotter rings.

The former owner of our current boat took a file and sharpened the ends
of the cotter rings on our turnbuckles... I wonder what he thought this
accomplished?


... I think each
securing method has its own place, and am not particularly dogmatic
about it. Your advice about keeping them shorter and just bending them
outwards slightly (I've seen super-long ones with their ends twirled
into "mustaches") is correct.


Agreed. I like to use cotter pins on some types of machinery that rarely
gets taken apart.

DSK