Short-link 6mm chain too small for my shackle

[Greenheart]

So, I'll need a smaller shackle, right? But how small can I go, before the shackle is so much narrower than the chain that it becomes a 'weak link'?

The space in 6mm short-link chain is seriously limited. No hope for this one, which I thought would be fine...

...are narrow shackles made for this job?

 

[ShinyShoe]

Does the screwed pin fit?

If so use two shackles. One srewed pin through the hole on the anchor. then a second shackle with its bow through the bow of the first and the screwed pin through the chain...

Secure each pin with wire/cable tie to ensure don't undo.

 

[Greenheart]

Dammit, why can't I think of things like that?

Thanks ShinyShoe.

 

[ShinyShoe]

Coz you didn't spend an hour trying to fix a race mark in a choppy sea with exactly that problem to eventually radio the bosun to say bring me a better sized shackle before I just chuck all your ground tackle over the side...

2 minutes later he appears with a cheeky smile...

"Whats the problem"

"The shackle you gave me for the replacement chain doesn't fit... its too fat for the holes"

"Let me see?" Fumbles for a few seconds (sneaks on second shackle as described above).. "Just needs an engineer's touch" (splash) (race mark replaced in water).

"How did you do that?"

"Dunno - you must have been trying the wrong link in the chain..."

(retrieve chain to see if the links were different sizes).

"*******"

 

[blackbeard]

Tested (coloured-pin) shackle come with an estimate of safe working load.
Wichard (stainless) shackles give an estimated breaking strain and safe load, at a price.
Some connectors also quote a safe working load.
So far as I can see - anything else and you are on your own.
Remember to use wire to mouse the shackle, tuck the wire ends out of the way of fingers.

 

[Greenheart]

Thanks again. So much easier to learn a lesson through somebody else's failure of lateral thinking! :encouragement:

I hadn't realised there was much variety between the quality of widely-available shackles. I'll keep an eye out for the difference.

 

[VicS]

:encouragement:

I hadn't realised there was much variety between the quality of widely-available shackles. I'll keep an eye out for the difference.

I shouldn't think its going to be a great worry if it just for your anchor.

Some rubbish around though that is a worry on a mooring.

I've had some that look fine but after 1 seasons use on a mooring the pin is well worn.

 

[Greenheart]

I'll probably be fine with another cheap galvanised shackle then...the anchor will be a shallow-water lunch-hook, maybe occasional overnights somewhere very calm.

 

[Norman_E]

Why not use an anchor connector? This one at least has quoted breaking strains, whereas most shackles do not. http://www.bosunbobs.com/en/Kong-Ga...tm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=UnitedKingdom

 

[Greenheart]

Yep, that's nice, I like everything about it...but while I'm making my anchor-warp out of old mainsheets, I reckon I'll save my £15 and just find another shackle in my tackle-box.

 

[Daydream believer]

Pass the chain through the big shackle & back on itself for 12 inches
Use a small bow shackle whose pin will go in the last link & whose bow will go around the standing part of the chain
You have now formed a loop . The chain will not put so much strain on the shackle as it will create friction on the chain
Now get another large shackle that fits over the 2 pieces of the bight but is tight enough to stop the 2 bits of chain passing through the shackle. It does not need the pin to go through the chain but does need to jam the 2 bits of chain together so they cannot slide