shackles in rigging

[kieronriley]

would numerous shackles used in the rigging make it any weaker,i.e five fastened together to make up the length of cap shrouds or is there any other reason not to do it,thanks.Kieron

 

[Tranona]

Time for new shrouds or proper extension plates. 5 shackles equals 5 potential weak links.

 

[sarabande]

apart from the aesthetics of a chain of shackles, there's a danger that if the shroud/stay becomes loose on a tack, one of the shackles could capsize and jam against another tone to produce a severe twisting moment causing a breakage.

 

[kieronriley]

thanks for that ,i did think it would cause problems but just could not get my brain in gear on it.Its not my boat its someone in my club who is never wrong and is an "engineer"worrying isnt it.

 

[Leighb]

I would wonder seriously what has gone wrong to need that number of shackles.

Was the rigging made up wrong? Has the whole rig come off another similar boat?

If it fitted properly last season it should do so again unless something has been incorrectly fitted. It could be that the mast is stepped wrong and this is causing the apparent shortness of the shrouds?

 

[kieronriley]

his mast snapped last year and this mast must be a bit longer so all the shrouds and for and backstay are the same(shackled up )

 

[jeremyshaw]

Why not a bit of chain as an alternative?

 

[savageseadog]

I know a surveyor condemned the use of shackles in the double tail of a backstay. It was a fractional swept back rig and the backstay isn't even structural. It was a fail nevertheless.

 

[jeanne]

Try finding a published working load, or a breaking load for a shackle, in your local chandler.It is not available.
The working load on rigging is measured in tons and to buy a shackle with that sort of guarantee, you will have to go to a lifting gear specialist. At this point, it may become cheaper to do the job correctly, and replace the rigging.

 

[Noddy]

I asked a similar question about replacing (expensive) toggles with shackles. I can't remember the exact figures but the difference in safe working load was surprisingly large. Enough to make me go out and get toggles.

P

 

[Leighb]

[ QUOTE ]
his mast snapped last year and this mast must be a bit longer so all the shrouds and for and backstay are the same(shackled up )

[/ QUOTE ]

I suspected there must be some such explanation.

I would be very unhappy using lots of shackles. Definitely bite the bullet and have new rigging.

How old was his old rigging? Perhaps it was due for replacement anyway?

 

[bbg]

Or he could cut a few inches of the bottom of the mast.

 

[lw395]

You can get shackles with a known strength from Harken or Wichard, but it would be cheaper to get some wire extensions crimped up, perhaps in wire one size bigger?
What size wire are we talking about?