Turnbuckle dilemma

[Figment]

Let me preface all of this by admitting that I've dug my own hole here...

OK, so this is not a unique situation. #78 was rerigged by previous owners, and now I'm just trying to figure out what's right for the boat.
As part of replacing the primary bulkhead http://www.triton381.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=24 I replaced the original 7/8"x8" bronze chainplates with 1-1/8"x12" stainless.

This created a problem because the jaws of the turnbuckles on the main shrouds were not deep enough to accept the tang of the new chainplates. These turnbuckles were the oddballs of the boat, a mismatched pair of stainless on a boat otherwise rigged with bronze, so I was planning on replacing them sooner or later anyway.
Bristol Bronze reccommended 3/8" turnbuckles for the boat, so that's what I blindly ordered.
The NEW problem is that these 3/8" turnbuckles are too large. The shroud eye won't accept a 3/8" pin, and the tbuckle body is just too long anyway.

So which course do I follow?
"Course A" suggests that the boat sailed 40+ years rigged with smaller tbuckles and chainplates, and why mess with a good thing... Just buy smaller turnbuckles, maybe go back to smaller chainplates.
"Course B" suggests that Roger at Bristol Bronze has been around the block a few times and knows a thing or three about rigging boats. Replace the shrouds, or at least shorten existing and install new terminal eye.

All input appreciated. Thanks, Fellas.

-MH

[Tim]

The smaller turnbuckles with 5/16" pins (I'm assuming...if they're 1/4", I would want to upgrade, myself) should be more than adequate, strengthwise, for the rig loads on a Triton. That said, the original bronze turnbuckles that came with my boat have a 3/8" pin diameter. My new chainplates and turbuckles also have 3/8" pins, for that matter, since that's what was original. The turnbuckles themselves are much smaller than the original monsters. This was no problem because I redid all the rigging at the time.

You can shorten the existing wires, but before doing so be sure of their condition. Perhaps it makes sense to replace them entirely at this point. Or you could just as easily substitute smaller turnbuckles (5/16") and not worry about it. I'm sure they're adequate, though within reason some additional strength is never a bad thing.

The 40 years of use argument eclipses most others, however, from a practical sense. The wheel need not be reinvented constantly.

[Figment]

Thanks for the feedback, Tim.

Returning to 5/16" buckles does seem like the thing to do. I'll hang onto the new 3/8" units for use at the forestay and backstay.

Chances are that the 5/16" buckles will have jaws that are too shallow for the tang on the 3/8" chainplates, but I think I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. I'll probably just file down the chainplates to get me through this year, and deal with new chainplates (and filling & drilling new bolt holes in the bulkheads) next winter.