SanFran 12 Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 Does anyone use these on their headsail sheets? How good are they? Particularly when tacking? What size is best? Thinking 6mm being a total of 12mm holding power. Do you leave the on when furling and after putting the boat to bed? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SanFran 12 Posted February 5, 2022 Author Share Posted February 5, 2022 And making them..., if u use, then what length is best to make. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CarpeDiem 430 Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 On 5/02/2022 at 5:24 PM, SanFran said: And making them..., if u use, then what length is best to make. Yeah we have then. As short as possible is the answer. Also add pull tails so they can be easily opened. They are kind of a bugger when changing sails in a rough seaway, they demand two hands, which makes hanging on difficult, while a bowline can be tied with one hand Don't worry about the diameter you use. Pick whatever is sensible. 6mm has a breaking strain of 4000kg, unless you're going to be hanging the equivalent of a family size car off your clew you won't break them. We also have a Velcro wrap on each which we wrap around the centre to reduce the chance of catching on things when tacking and stop them shaking off. And we leave them on all the time. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Psyche 626 Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 I make them regularly, theres a good knot app called Grogs Animated Knots that happens to have step by step instructions for 2 different styles. I use this design; Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ballystick 72 Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SputIoiCkT0 I made them integrated into the sheets so that it can't be dropped and is neat and tidy, there are several Youtube videos showing how to construct them. They've been good and also for our lightweight spinnaker sheets too. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alibaba 76 Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 For headsail clew - brilliant. Over 30 years I've experimented with allsorts. No heavy bits of steel to hit you on the foredeck. Make them [ from old rope even] with long tails. They look a bit untidy, but it makes then easier to take off if you are changing sails. I've never had one break on me, but probably best to replace each season due to u/v damage. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Black Panther 1,581 Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 Has someone got a photo of one in situ on a headsail sheet? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Deep Purple 511 Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 I use them on the gennaker clew, never had one come off. Make my own, it's very therapeutic 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sudden5869 17 Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 I've found these instructions really helpful. https://l-36.com/soft_shackle_9.php Great little calculator to help with measurements and sizings. Added them to new Genoa / Jib Sheets. A small eye splice on the sheet means the soft shackle fits in tightly and stays there permanently. Agree with Carpe Diem. They take two hands, to attach and remove, which can be a drawback. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
aardvarkash10 954 Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 whats the advantage over just tying the sheet to the clew? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sudden5869 17 Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 5 minutes ago, aardvarkash10 said: whats the advantage over just tying the sheet to the We found Soft Shackles helped with timing the Genoa and Jib in. Always the same size, not like a bowline. So better as a reference for timing. Also, the bowline on the sheet needed to be very small otherwise it would touch or restrict the Jib car. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ballystick 72 Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 They are light, don't catch on side stays so easily and can't be dropped like normal shackles Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Psyche 626 Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 52 minutes ago, aardvarkash10 said: whats the advantage over just tying the sheet to the clew? its a neater solution all round, doesnt catch the shrouds as much as a bowline and faster if changing sails. If you havent got eyes spliced in the ends of your sheets then youll need to buy new ones as thats almost impossible on old lines. Have tried them but not a big fan of integrated shackles as the button knot wont pass through sheaves easily and it's a tidier bundle at the clew with a single shackle with only one knot to catch shrouds, although you only need the softie on one sheet so there is that. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CarpeDiem 430 Posted February 6, 2022 Share Posted February 6, 2022 1 minute ago, SanFran said: Good to know. Any issues when they are not under load? Ie they dont open up or shake off... They can be fidgety to open, especially if you have wet gloves on, that's why pull cords are advised to open them quickly. They could theoritcally shake off right, just like I could theoritcally find the winning lotto ticket blowing down my street.... I think it is very unlikely, but definitely not impossible. I have never had one shake off, while I have had bowlines shake out several times. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
raz88 96 Posted February 6, 2022 Share Posted February 6, 2022 I've had a soft shackle shake off. Now use insulating tape or velcro as mentioned earlier in the thread and haven't had it happen again. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CarpeDiem 430 Posted February 6, 2022 Share Posted February 6, 2022 4 minutes ago, raz88 said: I've had a soft shackle shake off. Now use insulating tape or velcro as mentioned earlier in the thread and haven't had it happen again. Oh yes, I meant with the Velcro... Good catch! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MartinRF 53 Posted February 6, 2022 Share Posted February 6, 2022 Here is a simple alternative. http://www.katiekat.net/Cruise/Cruise2003EPhotos/JibClew3.jpg /Martin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jon 360 Posted February 6, 2022 Share Posted February 6, 2022 Martin that’s clever for a cruising boat wouldn’t work on a race boat that wants to peel headsails Quote Link to post Share on other sites
aardvarkash10 954 Posted February 6, 2022 Share Posted February 6, 2022 I am soooo glad we have a furling headsail with pretty much permanently attached sheets. Otherwise this would open a whole new area for obsessive noodling Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ex Machina 365 Posted February 7, 2022 Share Posted February 7, 2022 Use them on the gennaker sheets which also double the code zero sheets , makes for a quick changeover from Gen to zero etc. also use on the jib sheets much kinder to the mast and deck than an SS shackle Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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