john newton
New member
I thought that this was just what I did to avoid the expense of metalware but the term seems to recur here. What exactly is a soft shackle? I just tie a loop, sometimes a coil, usually with a fisherman's bend.
soft shackles
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MoodySabre
Well-known member
It's one of these.
sarabande
Well-known member
it'sa term specifically relating to dyneema or similar aramid ropes.
Colligo are the experts and have a good video on Youtube. (Note the shackle is 'set' to a tension of 5000 lbs before use !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH66tGsWv_Y
Colligo are the experts and have a good video on Youtube. (Note the shackle is 'set' to a tension of 5000 lbs before use !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH66tGsWv_Y
john newton
New member
I might have known it's something you have to buy. What's the difference between it and my loop made with a fisherman's knot? I get the strength I want by doubling up whatever line I'm using.
The device in the photo seems to have a stopper knot threaded through an eye splice, it sounds the sort of thing I could make sitting on the deck doing my Peter Duck act with my sailmaker's palm ( I don't smoke a pipe) although I find myself increasingly reluctant to do tiddly things.
The device in the photo seems to have a stopper knot threaded through an eye splice, it sounds the sort of thing I could make sitting on the deck doing my Peter Duck act with my sailmaker's palm ( I don't smoke a pipe) although I find myself increasingly reluctant to do tiddly things.
tudorsailor
Well-known member
I have found this link on how to make an improved soft shackle. Have yet to try for myself. I need to work out what size line and what size shackle to make!
TudorSailor
TudorSailor
UncleAlbert
Member
I made a couple of these last year and used one to affix genoa sheets to clew. Worked really well, never showed any sign of undoing or wear and helped a lot with allowing the sheets to get past the baby stay during tacks as theer is less bulk.
Its also less painfull than metal work or knots giving you a slap on the head when the sails flogging and you need to sort something out on the fordeck!!!
Thoroughly recommend having a couple on the boat for other attachment purposes.
Unc
Its also less painfull than metal work or knots giving you a slap on the head when the sails flogging and you need to sort something out on the fordeck!!!
Thoroughly recommend having a couple on the boat for other attachment purposes.
Unc
onesea
Well-known member
Easy to make and effective and do not need to be Dyneema just strong enough for the job.
Once upon a time you would use a man rope know and splice in 3 strand rope. Or a toggle to do similar.
Once upon a time you would use a man rope know and splice in 3 strand rope. Or a toggle to do similar.
micha571
Member
I have made some of these, too. We're using these for jib sheet-attachment and it works great. Much better than the commercial soft shackles.
rob2
Active member
Does anyone know what Amsteel is?
Rob
Rob
ghostlymoron
Well-known member
Rob, Haven't you heard of Google?
AmSteel® is a nonrotational, Samthane-coated 12-strand single braid that yields high strength and low stretch; equivalent to wire rope with one-seventh the weight. In addition, the product is flexible, spliceable, and resists flex-fatigue and abrasion
http://www.samsonrope.com/index.cfm?rope=190
Last edited:
ghostlymoron
Well-known member
The advantage of soft shackles is that you can easily undo them just like a hard shackle.
rob2
Active member
OK, very good, but you left out saying that it in fact Dyneema. The part quoted is typical US, meaningless marketing sh+te (I ask you - Samthane!). Sorry, but it was the simple fact that the link was so well written and made perfect sense other than that the material is given as a brand name which led to my slightly sarcastic question. ;-)
Rob
ghostlymoron
Well-known member
Dyneema is just another brand name. A chemical formula would mean nothing to me as its presumably a long polymer.
nigelmercier
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A very long polymer: Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE, UHMW) is a subset of the thermoplastic polyethylene. Also known as high-modulus polyethylene, (HMPE), or high-performance polyethylene (HPPE), it has extremely long chains, with a molecular weight usually between 2 and 6 million. Source Wikipedia
Foolish Muse
Member
I made some myself. Very easy with a fid. For the knot, I didn't use a fancy knot. I just did a half hitch and dipped it in glue to hold. Works fine. You notice that the eye of the soft shackle is very small when closed. This is important I think.
Neeves
Well-known member
You can also make them from tape, which can then be 'flatter'.
knuterikt
Active member
Pictures ?
Neeves
Well-known member
Pictures? never took any, never thought they'd be of interest! I'll try to make ammends
Neeves
Well-known member
Soft Shackles, loups etc have been used by rock climbers for decades, they were boringly called slings (and were knotted, not spliced) - its odd they took so long to reach the marine industry, maybe it was the introduction of Dyneema that was needed. Rock climbers used tape, hence my use of tape (my idea is hardly original). There are a whole host of other rock climbing devices with marine application, jumars, ascendeurs (or the prussik knot) to climb masts, abseiling brakes as boom brakes, climbing harnesses instead of bosuns chairs (and when I climb the mast I use climbing boots - more comfortable than deck shoes - but a personal thing). I now only use a climbing harness. There are others (and some might not be marinised, or salt water compliant) - but I forget (and I do not have pictures - I'll try to get round to it, never thought it would ever be of interest). In rough weather I had wondered if a helmet (climbers, but bike would do) would be useful should I ever need to go up the mast - but I never went further than wondering. There might be devices that cavers use - do not know.
