Shackle sizing

snowleopard

snowleopard

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On an 8mm shackle, is it the bow or the pin that is 8mm? And if it's the bow, how thick is the pin?

The reason I ask is that I'm replacing my anchor chain and want the biggest shackle possible to join it to the anchor.
 
You can normally go up one size. 8mm chain 10mm shackle.

I think that the body and pin are the same nominal size and the size description of the shackle.

Apparently it is best to use a galvanised shackle with galvanised chain.
 
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On 8mm short link chain the opening is 12mm by 24mm.
Now I'm not sure if you'll be be able to squeeze through a 12mm shackle but certainly a 10mm shackle.
Our folding fishermans (Kedge) anchor is currently being regalvanised but since it's never used the main shackle just corrodes up and locks solid. This time I shall use a 20mm Stainless shackle (as I found one at 75% off) but still need an intermediate shackle (10mm) to go between the large shackle and 8mm chain.
 
With most marine shackles the pin and body are the same nominal size. A 10 mm pin will normally go through a DIN 766 or ISO 4565 8 mm chain. you may well get a 12 mm pin through but the final link on the chain may need to be squeezed a little endways to open it out. Coloured lifting and hoisting shackles, sold by some chandlers, have the pin a size larger than the body.

My testing, shown on the website, found stainless steel shackles generally to be stronger and more consistent than galvanised ones. Galvanic corrosion is never an issue with anchoring gear, as opposed to moorings.
 
I have found that the common 'galvanised' shackles are in fact zinc plated and the plating disappears very quickly. I will hunt around for old fashioned hot-dip galvanised. I have found in the past that stainless in contact with galvanised causes the galvanising to erode.
 
vyv_cox said:
With most marine shackles the pin and body are the same nominal size. A 10 mm pin will normally go through a DIN 766 or ISO 4565 8 mm chain. you may well get a 12 mm pin through but the final link on the chain may need to be squeezed a little endways to open it out. Coloured lifting and hoisting shackles, sold by some chandlers, have the pin a size larger than the body.

My testing, shown on the website, found stainless steel shackles generally to be stronger and more consistent than galvanised ones. Galvanic corrosion is never an issue with anchoring gear, as opposed to moorings.
Click to expand...

I buy about 150 shackles a year for moorings & they all have different sized pin to bow
ie shackles designated 19*22, 16*19, 13*16 etc & all CE marked.
Not sure about sizes under 10mm as i do not buy many
I also find for moorings that galv shackles last no longer than plain although I stock galv as that is what people want
Generally where the chain rubs the galvanising has gone in a week or so
However, chain for an anchor is different because they are in use a lot less & it does avoid rust stains

As for quality of stainless shackles- Some I once bought once were absolutely useless ( dirt cheap though!!) I still get people asking for them, but I always give them a lecture on unreliability first - makes little difference!!!!!

Now I to buy from a known reliable source.
 
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