Protecting a sharp thread on a mainsail shackle

sarabande

sarabande

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The shackles on the main all have a machine screw to secure the main to the slug, and the ends of the screws seem sharp, perhaps as a result of 'peening' to make sure it undoesn't.

View attachment 34198


Any suggestions as to how I could prevent fingers, and other sails, being cut please ? A blob of butyl rubber ?


The thread on many of them is deformed, so adding a domed nut and grinding off the excess thread does not appear to be an option.
 
Change all the pins out for SS bolts and fit dome nuts this time. The pins should be a standard thread.
 
I know that the thread is deformed but perhaps a s/s dome nut would screw on. I sympathise as I recently gashed my arm quite severely on the end thread of a s/s bolt as I was doing some emergency anchoring and I defused the thing by adding a dome nut.
 
Dome nuts with Loctite, or peen over the excess thread (having carefully cut to +2mm overlength), pls ?
 
Those will be an endless source of chafe, friction and cut fingers. Not worth the work involved in fettling them. Swap 'em all for the excellent nylon fittings available in any chandler, and from your favourite sailmaker.
 
A quick fix would be to slip a short length of heat shrink sleeving over the exposed thread. Then heat it and it will shrink and grip the thread.
 
Replace with a lashing of dyneema, or add a locknut and file the thread off flush.
Possible easy way out, add a nylon nut and a drop of superglue?
The plastic shackles are OK if not too stressed and they are the right length.
 
thanks everyone. I've tried unscrewing a couple but the thread is too heavily distorted where it has been hammered / snipped off. So it's out with the bolt croppers.

Looks like 9 new nylon ones and a couple of spares for the Bosun's Bag !

Ta !
 
thanks for the discussion and recommendations.

Being of a frugal disposition, I considered that buying 12 nylon shackles, at approx £1 each, was not as good 'boat value' as using polyester webbing and sewing the sail to the slugs.

I trawled the web for perhaps two hours trying to find a webbing stockist prepared to sell me 5 metres, and found right on my door step this company

http://www.ptwinchester.co.uk/

in Taunton. They are simply excellent, with good product knowledge and a keen sales lady at the front.


I bought a 25 m roll of 12mm herringbone (loose-ish) weave tape, with a BS of 400KG for a shade under £12. Now that seems like value to me !


So this evening, to console myself after having the little car fail its MOT for 4 dead bulbs (I must have been fast asleep !) I set to on the sail, removing the slugs, and sewing the webbing on. Each one has 3 full wraps, and is through-sewn and whipped to finish it off and make the slug stand away from the bolt rope. It takes about 11 minutes to do slowly.

View attachment 34287


One more box ticked :)
 
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