Soft shackles - uses

GHA said:
Where do get the covers from?
Though never had a problem with chafe, marlow d12 max is really tough stuff.
Thinking yesterday maybe splicing some dyneema to the halyards so if any chafe does occur it's easy to replace rather than eventually have to ditch the whole halyard.
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In France they have become common during the recent years and are usually found at chandlers; there are a multitude of different types, the main two are dyneema covers for low friction, and technora covers when additional grip is required (example clutches), then mixtures, etc etc
some examples here
https://shop.inorope.com/?s=gaine&post_type=product
 
noelex said:
The Dyneema cover is actually quite tightly woven, smooth and low friction. Initial results are very promising, but it is early days.
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Oh, I saw it backwards. Yes, I have tested that type of cover and it is pretty good. What matters for abrasion is that it is tight (less snagging) and that the weave is more side-to-side than end-to-end, like single braid. This allows it to glide side-to-side instead of snag.
 
Has anyone found a reasonable
Place to get dark coloured dyneema chafe/covers?

Best I can find is premium ropes in NL. Jimmy green seems pricy and has a 5m min order, with a long order/lead time.
 
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I can see it pulling through the eye if the rope diameters are to large enough, would then be hard to get though the eye?
 
Robert Wilson said:
View attachment 80822View attachment 80823View attachment 80824

Well, whadaya know!
First attempt to upload pics with new laptop.

So here is the soft shackle I tried (a link on the WWW)

Any comments?
Good, bad, wrong size etc etc?
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That's... not how I'd use a soft shackle. I'd certainly not trust such a setup; I know of at least a few rock climbers who died because they thought that a larger knot wouldn't pass through the carabiner in a similar setup.

It's a shackle (edit: well, I wouldn't consider what's in the picture to be a proper shackle, as it's just a fixed loop); why not just use it like one?
 
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Robert Wilson said:
)
Any comments?
Good, bad, wrong size etc etc?
Click to expand...
Get a soft shackle! :)
Or some dyneema and make one.

DSC_0817_4da91d31-11fa-447d-8449-8fb26a644bb4.JPG
 
noelex said:
She enjoys teaching anyone who is interested, but you will have to bring chocolate and single malt :).
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and my own rope and sewing kit!

As for that shackle set up O_O no no no no no no no! No. That's bad as the loop can easily slip out on an odd tack/gybe. Would strongly recommend switching to other set up seen in this thread (ours isn't as good and I haven't managed to get a picture yet anyway).
 
Robert Wilson said:
View attachment 80822View attachment 80823View attachment 80824

.....Any comments?
Good, bad, wrong size etc etc?
Click to expand...


Yes, it's a good set up I have used similar in the past, saw it first in PBO a good while back.
A timely reminder to look at it again for next season - saves pulling through acres of sheet on a dinghy-like set up and does not lock up solid.

PS.

I would set up the locking loop so it physically can't move back - Either close up the holding loop or seize the locking loop in position.
 
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I fitted a soft shackle to connect the mainsheet snap shackle to the metal loop on the traveller. The snap shackle would not go through the loop so a shackle was fitted which worked but also not good and clunky. The soft shackle is perfect, aligns well and not noisy.
 
doug748 said:
Yes, it's a good set up I have used similar in the past, saw it first in PBO a good while back.
A timely reminder to look at it again for next season - saves pulling through acres of sheet on a dinghy-like set up and does not lock up solid.

PS.

I would set up the locking loop so it physically can't move back - Either close up the holding loop or seize the locking loop in position.
Click to expand...

That is most likely the fault with my set-up. The "blocking section" was too long and therefore probably slipped backwards, not as I thought through the cringle
Thanks, I'll go for that, or a standard soft-shackle as shown in these various posts :encouragement:
 
noelex said:
Vulnerability to chafe is the largest drawback of soft shackles versus stainless steel shackles. My wife is the rope guru on board and makes all our soft shackles. Where chafe is an issue she has started to use a Dyneema cover. As well as an extra layer providing chafe protection, the cover material is very tightly woven which seems to produce a result that is highly chafe resistant compared to other ropes (but still not as good as stainless steel obviously). However, we have not been using this combination long so it is a little too early to tell.

Here is a photo of the cover on several Dyneema loops, skilfully secured by weaving in the ends. The cover is onthe right, bare Dyneema on the left. The same cover can be added to soft shackles, or the cover can completely encase a Dyneema loop if needed.

0unzUxW.jpg
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My rigger used a similar cover on my main halyard when there was a problem with chafe and after the first season it seems to show no signs of wear.
 
PaulRainbow said:
I have made some with low friction rings in them and some without. I don't use them much, but i do use a set of four, with low friction rings, for the cruising chute tack line.
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Paul, do you have a reference for the way you spliced the LFR into the shackle? I'm planning to make some up for a preventer and the only ref I have found is on cruiserforum, I was initially planning to just incorporate a locked brummel into the soft shackle...
 
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You can source dyneema hollow tube, or dyneema covers, for any application but in context - for soft shackles from Lancelin, www.lancelin.fr . They imply they have a UK distributor. They seem to call it 'over sheath'. They also sell ready made soft shackles, with and without a sheath (or cover). The soft shackles and the sheath are SK75.

Lancelin have just opened a production unit in Sydney but I don't know if they make sheaths.

A problem with a sheath is how to finish off the cover, and Noelex shows one answer above. For soft shackles Lancelin, in Sydney, made me some to test, and the cover is loose but welded into the turks head (is that what you call it) and woven into the splice. We have used a dyneema abrasion cover, from Nautilus Braids in NZ, on some of our snubbers (bridle) and we whipped and sewed ( sewed with dyneema fishing line).

Jonathan
 
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PaulRainbow said:
That's not a soft shackle. Rather than that, use a cow hitch with a single line.
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You are correct and I'm beginning to think I'll use cow hitches and leave each headsail with sheets attached; sheets attached when in use and when in the bag.
That'll save the bother of trying to tie bowlines each time I change sails.
N.B. It always takes me at least two attempts with bowlines :o
 
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