304 is stronger than 316 by about 3-5%. 316 is more corrosion
resistant. Both are terrible versus fatigue strength (endurance
limit). Failure of stanless is usually a combinationof fatigue and
crevice corrosion .... the crevice corrosion immediately following (and
is additive to) the 'early' fatigue of the base metal.
On boats or other appliications of cyclic stress, Stainless should
never be sized for 'ultimate tensile values' but at 1/3 those values to
be sure that the metal is below its endurance limit; 1/4 those values
for an 'offshore design'.


In article rs.com,
Howard wrote:

Something to ponder while watching the snow.

I have a 20 year old steel cutter with original wire rigging. Ted
Brewer design.

The orignal owner fitted it out with all 1/4" 316 standing rigging.

I'm thinking of changing out part of the rigging, the back stay and fore
stay. It all looks good but just because.............

Anyway two questions:

1. Supposed I change out the wire, these are the two longest, and then
save the used wire as emergency wire. The wire fails at the bottom
connection so wack off 6" and the rest is good! No? New bottles etc.
of course.

2. Ted Brewer recently wrote in Good Old Boat about standing rigging and
is apparently partial to 304 vs 316. That does not seem to be
conventional wisdom, yet consider the source. So what say you, 304 does
have more strength for the same weight and windage. What are the
detractors and how severe?

Many thanks,

Howard