C. Sherman Johnson Turnbuckles & Boots

C. Sherman Johnson Turnbuckles & Boots: The Gold Standard in Marine Rigging

When it comes to standing rigging and lifeline hardware, few names carry the weight of C. Sherman Johnson. Founded in 1958, the company got its start when Curtiss S. Johnson Jr. — driven by a personal passion for sailing — set out to engineer stainless steel turnbuckles that could genuinely meet the demands of the marine environment. That founding instinct has never wavered: more than six decades later, C. Sherman Johnson remains a family-owned American manufacturer whose turnbuckles and boots are benchmarks of quality in the sailing world.

Why C. Sherman Johnson Turnbuckles Stand Apart

The engineering behind a C. Sherman Johnson turnbuckle is not accidental. The company's tubular and open-body turnbuckles feature forged silicon bronze bodies paired with 316 stainless steel ends — a combination specifically chosen to prevent galling (seizing under high tension), a chronic problem with all-stainless assemblies. The integral toggle jaw found on many of their tubular models eliminates the need for a separate rigging toggle, reducing hardware count and potential failure points on the rig.

Their long-running Handy Lock Turnbuckle — the product that literally started the company — is still in production today, a testament to the durability of the original design. For sailors who prefer a more modern approach, the tubular turnbuckle line offers jaw/jaw and jaw/swage configurations in multiple thread sizes, accommodating wire diameters from 1/8" up through 3/8" depending on the rig's requirements.

Boots & Locking Accessories: Protecting Your Investment

A quality turnbuckle is only as reliable as its protection system. C. Sherman Johnson addresses this with purpose-built boots and pin-locking solutions designed to keep threaded bodies secure and protected from the elements. Their Wrap Pins — hook-and-loop Velcro locking devices — are available in multiple sizes to fit open-body turnbuckles ranging from 1/4" through 1/2", offering a clean, seamless way to prevent unwanted rotation without the fuss of traditional cotter pins. Rigging tape and boots round out the lineup, guarding threads and barrel bodies against UV exposure, salt spray, and chafe that can silently compromise rigging integrity over time.

Made in the USA, Trusted Worldwide

Every C. Sherman Johnson turnbuckle and rigging accessory is manufactured in the United States — a tradition upheld since the company's first year of operation. That commitment to domestic production has helped Johnson Marine earn the reputation as the industry's number-one supplier of lifeline fittings, with hardware trusted by boat designers, builders, offshore racing programs, and weekend cruisers alike. When you install a C. Sherman Johnson turnbuckle, you're fitting hardware that has been refined across generations of a single family's dedication to the craft.

• Forged silicon bronze bodies with 316 stainless steel ends for a non-galling combination
• Integral toggle jaw on tubular models eliminates a separate rigging toggle
• Wrap Pins (Velcro locking devices) available in 1/4", 5/16"–3/8", and 7/16"–1/2" sizes
• Multiple configurations: jaw/jaw, jaw/swage, closed-body, and open-body styles
• Rigging tape and protective boots to guard hardware against UV and corrosion
• All products made in the USA since 1958