Cotter keys or retaining rings?

[GadgetGeek]

Thanks for the replies and all of the ideas. I hope to get down to the boat this weekend to count the missing pieces and make notes for what I need to to buy, etc. and then make a plan for what will go where.

[RaymondR]

Originally Posted by ramblinrod

But no method of positive retention; just reliant on compression and friction fit.

I wouldn't use them to secure standing rigging.

You are right, they can fallout if to loose a fit but I have never seen a properly matched one fall out.

[Bycrick]

When I bought my first boat in 1975, I had a well-respected SF rigger come look. The first thing he told me was to get rid of all the split-rings and replace them with proper cotter pins. He said that the rings can open up and pull out and the material in the hole is smaller, thus weaker. I haven’t used them since.