Sail shackles - missing size?

[icarusbop]

Hello:

I'm refirrint my sail fittings to my replacement sail, they were stitched on using webbing but I am hoping to use sail shackles to speed up fitting instead of re-stitching them.

My sail slides are stainless steel with little rollers on them as opposed to plain slides, the hole in the slide where they attach to the sail shackle is around 7.5mm (pending better measurement from a vernier caliper i am still looking for)

I have searched the internet and found lots of sail shackles, they are different sizes, and length and width is nearly always shown, but I can't seem to find anywhere that shows the diameter of the part (peg / screw) that actually goes through the shackle fixing point.
Can anyone advise if they are all a standard size maybe set to fit plastic slides? Or can anyone recommed a shackle that should fit my slides?

Thanks

Ian

 

[rotrax]

Following the failure of many plastic sail shackles on our Island Packet 350 after purchase-due to UV degradation as it spent the first 10 years of its life in Florida-I took a leaf from Alec Rose and deep sixed the plastic ones for small S/S ones. I replaced the slides at the same time.

I dont believe the diameter of the pins is significant-a little free play is essential in this area. The S/S shackles I used have 5mm pins which must be substantialy stronger than plastic. They have a fair bit of slop in the slides.

The Main whizzes up a treat now!

PS-I got the shackles from EBAY at a very good price.

 

[icarusbop]

Following the failure of many plastic sail shackles on our Island Packet 350 after purchase-due to UV degradation as it spent the first 10 years of its life in Florida-I took a leaf from Alec Rose and deep sixed the plastic ones for small S/S ones. I replaced the slides at the same time.

I dont believe the diameter of the pins is significant-a little free play is essential in this area. The S/S shackles I used have 5mm pins which must be substantialy stronger than plastic. They have a fair bit of slop in the slides.

The Main whizzes up a treat now!

PS-I got the shackles from EBAY at a very good price.

Hello: Thanks fro the feedback, I was considering the SS shackles, but was not sure of them - did you use normal (round) shackles or 'flat strap' shackles?
I noticed the plasic ones have a little nobble on them where they snap around the slide, presumably to stop the slide from sliding to the back of the shackle and jamming? Since the SS shackles I found don't have this little nobble I thought they might not be suitable.

 

[rotrax]

Hello: Thanks fro the feedback, I was considering the SS shackles, but was not sure of them - did you use normal (round) shackles or 'flat strap' shackles?
I noticed the plasic ones have a little nobble on them where they snap around the slide, presumably to stop the slide from sliding to the back of the shackle and jamming? Since the SS shackles I found don't have this little nobble I thought they might not be suitable.

I used round shackles. The plastic ones I removed were of two types-one type clipped together and the other used a screw. Neither had the little nobble you refer to.

 

[wilkinsonsails]

The little nobble is to stop the shackle tipping and dragging the slide at a jambing angle .They are called anti tumble shackles.
A small strip shackle with screw pin is a strong attachment ,but will often wear the sail luff tape ,so you need to put an anti chafe layer between metal and sail.
Cindy

 

[rotrax]

The little nobble is to stop the shackle tipping and dragging the slide at a jambing angle .They are called anti tumble shackles.
A small strip shackle with screw pin is a strong attachment ,but will often wear the sail luff tape ,so you need to put an anti chafe layer between metal and sail.
Cindy

Thanks for that-I was unaware.

When removing the main after our 1500 NM cruise last year the shackles and sail was inspected closely-no noticable wear. The shackles were fitted three seasons ago. The head of the sail-which is now in its 16th season-uses a heavy bronze slide. This was fastened with heavy tape and stitched and whipped.
The tape showed signs of wear so I changed it for a S/S shackle, but one I had kicking around. It is a little too long, and has twisted twice now on hoist. I will try a shorter shackle this season.

Thanks for the advice.