Soft shackles can be used for winching or towing situations giving you a much wider range of choices of where to connect to a vehicle for recovery. A steel shackle can take a lot of punishment but will rust – and when it does, it will seize, and you won't be able to unbolt it. The 3/4 Inch Soft Shackle is perfect for use with Jeeps, Trucks and SUV's. Adjust the shackle to make sure both legs have equal length. The best way to prolong its life is to keep it stored inside your truck. Although fitting snatch straps through that will be a pain. The sharp edges of front recovery points can slowly tear the soft shackle leading to failure. How to use a soft shackleton. Discoweb post 54antichrist said:The problem is that, based on personal observation, the majority of people off-roading don't understand safe rigging and how the load capacity would be affected by fitting one of these to a 2" pin vs. as illustrated in the OP photo. A good one will generally set you back anywhere between $30-$70. In most cases, it's not quite four times as strong as a conventional line, but it has been proven to handle up to 175% the weight as other options. Soft shackles are impressively strong. You will need to use this loop later. How To Tie A Soft Shackle Knot.
Some of the most popular of these include attaching halyards to sails, attaching sheets to sails to prevent snagging, for attaching blocks easily, and for use as sail hanks. The majority of soft shackles come rated at about 13-15 tons depending on what you buy. They're strong, tough, and incredibly reliable, but if you need something flexible, with maximum articulation, that can withstand the elements and won't rust, then you really can't go wrong with a good old-fashioned Soft Shackle Knot. It's not about winch line vs. hoisting standards. Correct Soft Shackle Rigging. You need to smooth down any sharp metal edges that a soft shackle attaches to-especially any steel hardware. Mainsail clew straps: Clew straps can help keep the clew of a furling, loose-footed, or reefed main tight along the boom.
Now, if you regularly get yourself in sticky situations and complex winch recoveries are on your list, then a soft shackle would be better – solely based on ease of use. Photo by Main_sail via iStock. A second rode: In some places with reversing currents and limited swinging room, a Bahamian moor-in which a secondary anchor is set at a 180-degree angle from the primary-a soft shackle can be used to connect the second rode below the snubber of the primary. How to use a soft shackle break. If you are making your own, take the time to make your knot well and ensure the legs are of proper length! It Floats on Water: As it is lightweight, the shackle can float in water. There are two general styles/configurations of soft shackle: those that look like a single line with the diamond knot at one end and an eye splice at the other end (which can be opened to slip over the knot); or where the eye splice is formed by passing the line through itself which leaves the body of the shackle as x2 individual lines. These Soft Shackles have a rope diameter of 3/4 inch that allows for use in areas where a similar size D-ring would be used.
When made correctly with the right material, fiber shackles are strong, can be released without tools, and are jam-proof in the most severe weather. Some great places to use soft shackles instead of steel shackles are the following: Please be aware of sharp edges when using soft shackles! And did we mention there are no pins to fasten? You should never place the load on the noose of a soft shackle. To make the most of the Soft Shackle Knot, we also recommend that you familiarize yourself with some of its shortcomings, variations, and alternative knots. A steel shackle has a very small opening which can be a pain to fit your snatch straps through. Weight - 5 oz (28 g). Easy Handling: Being lightweight, rust-resistant, and soft, using the HHippo Link shackle is easy to use. How to use soft shackles. Light Weight: These soft shackles are super lightweight compared to steel shackles. A simple yet highly effective Self Tightening Loop Design, that becomes stronger as more tension is applied, ensures that the knot will not slip off during use.
Well, imagine a steel shackle flying towards someone with all that force. Traditionally, soft-shackles have been a popular element of a lifting rope, especially in the sailing and shipping industry. Obviously, a soft shackle won't rust. Popular Applications. Soft vs Steel Shackles. The open-style (Edwards) shackles are easier to open and are preferred where frequent removal is required. Our 3/4″ Soft shackles have a unique design that allows for a fast and easy way to disconnect using our Quick Release Pull String. 5" rod wouldn't the resulting bend be too tight as compared to being attached to a 3" rod? You have no items in your shopping cart. There is no need to use screws and bolts to secure the shackle. For example, a hollow braid, 12-strand Dyneema will work well. Genoa sheet attachment: While most sailors are well served by either knots or a spliced-eye that is cow-hitched to the genoa clew, soft shackles offer a better option, if you are frequently swapping sails or removing sheets.
Be sure to use an open-style soft shackle (one with an oversized loop), as they are less prone to jamming with marine life. For more information visit or e-mail. A piece of rope sheath from a large static rope or some of our special Dyneema Shackle Sleeving material works wonderfully. Here are a few important features of the HHippo Link shackle. The most significant of these differences is the addition of a Diamond Knot to replace the Lanyard Knot. O An increasing number of blocks on the market are designed to be attached using soft shackles, strops or lashings. How To Tie A Soft Shackle Knot. If not, remove the knot from the noose, and then pass it through. They're seriously strong, very useful, and used for a wide range of purposes. A steel shackle isn't better than a soft shackle – the opposite is also true. No Rust or Corrosion: Being made from synthetic fibers, these shackles are resistant to rust, which is a common problem with steel shackles. There are hundreds of used for the Soft Shackle Knot. Easy to remove, never binds even after heavy load. One of the reasons for this change in popularity is the introduction of synthetic ropes like High-Modulus Polyethylene (HMPE).
Also note, the strength values we provide below are a result of a series of tests we ran on soft shackle tying methods. GearAmerica ½" Synthetic Soft Shackle | 45, 000 lbs Breaking Strength - Made in The USA | Stronger & Safer than Steel D Rings | For Off-Road Recovery & Towing | Protective Sleeve & Storage Bag Included. As mentioned before, the HHippo Link soft shackle offers a more advanced and improvised version of the conventional soft shackle. Simply pull on the string to help release the eye tension to remove from the knot. They naturally articulate. Which type to use mainly comes down to personal preference, however, at we would recommend the twin line version for x2 reasons: we believe they are a little easier to open/close and secondly, blocks tend to sit more comfortably on the two lines as they can move around to take the load more evenly. A couple of our tested splicing tools (see PS July 2006 online) are also well suited for the job. D) Safety Precautions. Black, Silver, Red, Blue, Yellow, Lime Green, Military Green, Teal, Purple and Pink. A soft shackle can be used anywhere a regular shackle would be used.
Finally, make sure the noose is closed properly around the knot before starting the rigging or lifting work. An anchor shackle, for example, is a poor application for a soft shackle. Discoweb post 52antichrist said:It looks like in the video that the test machine's fixed point the rope is attached to meets rope fixed point attachment guidelines, about 3 times the diameter of the rope (one of the reasons thimbles are used on winch lines, to maintain a correct minimum bend radius). If you want to be even safer include a second soft shackle. Will the soft shackle chafe on the rough chain? Photo by DarthArt via iStock. We'll also have a look at steel shackles, like the ones in the photo above. Soft shackles offer serious abrasion resistance, natural and flexible articulation, and they self-align to whatever load they need to handle. If you have found interesting or novel uses for soft shackles and would like to share them, send us an email at If you are sending photos as well, please be sure to send high-resolution images (minimum 300 dpi), so we can print them in the magazine.
If you're a boat owner, there's a good chance that you've encountered soft shackles before. Soft shackles are a very handy tool on a sailboat; they can securely attach something and hold incredible loads while weighing next to nothing and posing no risk of damaging the boat.
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