Why should you use soft shackes ?

With the evolution of modern single braid rope you can now make a soft shackle which is stronger than a traditional stainless steal shackle, at home and for a fraction of the cost. Knowing this I started to ask myself why the majority of sailors and boat owners (including myself) continue to use traditional shackles. As I started to research and talk to people if became clear the most people agreed soft shackles were better, but many of them still had not made the change.

After a couple of months trying to understand why I am now ready to make the switch, am sure if you read on and watch the videos on how to make them you will feel the same way too.

Before we get onto the positives and how to make them I wanted to call out the negatives and why this should not stop you from learning a new skill and changing the way you rig your boat.

• Soft Shackles will be effected by UV which will weaken them over time.
• The rope can wear on sharp edges.
• They are more expensive to buy or at least they were when I purchased my last hard shackle at my local marina.

Of the three issues above UV is the only one I can not solve for, with that said ropes continue to develop all boats parts wear. I think the positives below out way the fact that you may need to replace your soft shackles a little sooner than traditional ones. As for the other two, any sharp edges on a boat are bad, they could rip sails and cut your crew, as I looked into it the majority of hard edges which people using traditional shackles point it out most were created from metal wearing on metal. If you take the time to clean up or replace the damaged areas a soft shackle will usually do a better job. As for the cost the solution to that is simple, buy some Dyneema Rope and do it yourself. 

Now lets take a look at all the positives which should encourage you to make the switch.

• Soft Shackles are lighter than traditional stainless steels shackles.
• It is easier to undo a soft shackle with no tools required to loosen them.
• They will not corrode which should lengthen the life of the fitting you are attaching too and it will prevent rust stains from impacting your hull.
• They are cheaper if you learn to make them yourself.
• They are less dangerous when attached to sheets and sails. For example, when attached to a jib sheet there is less chance of the crew doing the bow or mast getting hit by hard shackles as sails flap during tack and gybes
• You will always have the right shackle as you can custom make a spare rather than searching through a tackle box for one that is not there.
• Splicing rope was key to many early sailing boats, why not learn a skill which at one stage technology threatened to make extinct. It is easier than you think.

Click the videos below to make your own Soft Shackles !!!