Dyneema Soft Shackles: ready to give it a go

[nigelmercier]

Further to this ...

This is today's effort for a 16cm 10mm Dyneema soft shackle. I used 3M of Dyneema, and buried the tails of each end loop all the way back to the middle loop, ie when you have the middle loop, and hence 2 150cm tails, half the tails and burry at that point - ie each tail with loop becomes 75cm ish. I used the small of the knots on the instructions, as the larger was huge when using 10mm.
http://www.bethandevans.com/pdf/improvedsoftshackle.pdf
Nice and simple instructions, and the smaller stopper knot is easy. Thanks Bevan.
With a 10mm fid for scale (and tape measure)
View attachment 45959...

... Selma Fids, very pleasing: http://amzn.to/1oUNEIx

Today I bought a length of 12mm Dyneema, so 10mm core, at the Kent Boat Jumble. The guy selling it (another Nigel) had put an eye in either end for a Boat Show customer who didn't turn up to pay for it, he said it nearly broke his heart when I said I was going to strip it

So I'm all set to give it a go, any suggested video tutorials to watch as well as Bevan's guide above? I was going to have a practice using the outer braid, is this sensible?

 

[Redfox226]

So I'm all set to give it a go, any suggested video tutorials to watch as well as Bevan's guide above? I was going to have a practice using the outer braid, is this sensible?

Just done the same - loads of tutorials on YouTube - just search dyneema soft shackle. Appear to be 2 main types, the original with buried loop, and an 'improved' version which looks much easier.... difficult thing appears to be the knot!

Good Luck

 

[DHV90]

for a fid Id just use a welding rod bent in half, works for all sizes of dyneema and doesnt cost 40 quid. other than that they nice and straight forwards with loads of variations, in no time youll be splicing up tweaker lines for everything with selden thimbles!

 

[knuterikt]

Have a look at this site http://l-36.com/soft_shackles.php?menu=4

 

[RAI]

I bought some 12mm for just this purpose. I was surprised that it was multi-core with probably only one of them in Dyneema. The outer braid on mine is difficult to practice with, as it is very stiff and flattens into a tape like form. The stopper knot is difficult to form well. The Dyneema braid works fine but ends up with big shackles with huge knots. I am not sure what the inner "filler" braid is made of, looks like cotton but isn't. Each shackle eats up an amazing amount of rope. I should have stuck with 8 mm or maybe 10 mm.

 

[knuterikt]

I bought some 12mm for just this purpose. I was surprised that it was multi-core with probably only one of them in Dyneema. The outer braid on mine is difficult to practice with, as it is very stiff and flattens into a tape like form. The stopper knot is difficult to form well. The Dyneema braid works fine but ends up with big shackles with huge knots. I am not sure what the inner "filler" braid is made of, looks like cotton but isn't. Each shackle eats up an amazing amount of rope. I should have stuck with 8 mm or maybe 10 mm.

The middle layer is used in some types of braided rope with Dyneema core to increase the diameter to get better grip in clutches and/or to make the rope softer (and as a consequence save on expensive Dyneema), most cruising Dyneema is made with this construction.
I have found that buying "naked" single braid is better for doing soft shackles and rings.

A conventional soft shackle has a breaking strength of 170% of the rope it's made of. Source http://l-36.com/high_strength_soft_shackle.php

Some numbers from http://www.marlowropes.com/leisure-marine-products-1/superyacht/d12-max-90.html
5mm Average Break load 3689 kg - softshackle 6283 kg
7mm Average Break load 8674 kg - softshackle 14745 kg
9mm Average Break load 12468 kg - softshackle 21195 kg

On the web site i linked http://l-36.com/soft_shackles.php?menu=4 there is calculator you could use to determine the length of rope to start with http://l-36.com/soft_shackle_howto.php

 

[Sarnia]

Further to this ...




Today I bought a length of 12mm Dyneema, so 10mm core, at the Kent Boat Jumble. The guy selling it (another Nigel) had put an eye in either end for a Boat Show customer who didn't turn up to pay for it, he said it nearly broke his heart when I said I was going to strip it

So I'm all set to give it a go, any suggested video tutorials to watch as well as Bevan's guide above? I was going to have a practice using the outer braid, is this sensible?

There are much better stopper knots than shown there, I am sorry lost the link, but easy to google, but been making my own for last 5 years, very boat friendly, very strong, my inner forestay is connected to the deck using one.

 

[GHA]

There are much better stopper knots than shown there.

Diamond knot?
http://l-36.com/diamond_knot.php

Better as in you can make a shackle out of some 12 strand dyneema using nothing more than a bic pen , but it's not actually as strong as the knot mentioned in the link.
Interesting results here...

http://www.bethandevans.com/load.htm

 

[knuterikt]

I think this video is good, detailed on the knot.

 

[UncleAlbert]

I love em and also like constructing them in various sizes. I trust it with my genoa sheets to sail connection and they last for a couple of years too. Just remember to leave a reasonable tail (which looks odd) but which eventually gets 'sucked' into the ball knot when under load, (as they mention in some of the vids)

 

[Sarnia]

I think this video is good, detailed on the knot.

Must definitely agree, the most easiest to follow and learn from, particularly making the knot.

I use one on my genoa also, my sheets have eyes spliced on the ends, makes life so much easier and less bulky than two bowlines when tacking. Simple to remove from the clew.

 

[Sarnia]

for a fid Id just use a welding rod bent in half, works for all sizes of dyneema and doesnt cost 40 quid. other than that they nice and straight forwards with loads of variations, in no time youll be splicing up tweaker lines for everything with selden thimbles!

Yes no need to spend much to make a fid, your welding rod an example. I bought some fine brass tube in B&Q, the fid is a 12 inch length with each end shaped by removing half the diameter, cutting itmaway for about an inch, rounding and tapering the end 1/4 inch for ease of entry through the dyneema weave.

 

[gregcope]

I have found that buying "naked" single braid is better for doing soft shackles and rings.

+1

You can buy sheath Dynema, and use the core, but that a faff.

These are easy after the first few. Practice on smaller dia rope to keep costs down if that helps.