[matthewwhill]

The shackle that is spliced onto (no bowline) my jib halyard is not big enough to attach to the head of my new jib. The grommet is placed too far from the edge of the material and the edge of the sail up there is thick and reinforced. The shackle just can't get around it.

Is there anything wrong with putting a metal carbiner, D-ring or something like that on the head of the jib, and attach the shackle to that? The shackle is big enough for all my other headsails.

 

[pdqaltair]

One of the greatest weaknesses of carabiners as halyard shackles is their tendency to clip spontaneously to stays and ropes.

a. Just tie a bowline.
b. A soft shackle would work nicely. Smooth the edges well.

 

[matthewwhill]

Don't think I can tie a bowline because the shackle is spliced on the end of my halyard and the shackle won't fit thru the grommet....

Good advice about carbiners spontaneously attaching to stays and lines. I got one that you secure closed with a screwing mechanism.

I'll have to look into soft shackles, not familiar with that.

But assuming I can get a metal attachment, ring, or carbiner that will not catch onto things its not supposed to, is there a downside to attaching a shackle to another metal part?

 

[jimgo]

Matthew, before you buy one of those locking carabineers, take PDQ's advice and look into soft shackles. That is the perfect solution for your problem. There are members here who are riggers who can make one for you, if you'd prefer a professional one, and even with shipping it is likely to cost less than the carabineer, plus it will be better suited for your purposes.

 

[matthewwhill]

So I would just leave the soft shackle on the jib, and attach the halyard shackle to it?

 

[Barquito]

Put another bigger shackle on the other one. You won't be able to get the head as close to full hoist as before. Over the winter cut the small shackle off, and splice a bigger one on.

 

[matthewwhill]

Or how about, loop of halyard thru grommet. Shackle thru loop, then pull tight...

 

[vega1860]

Don't think I can tie a bowline because the shackle is spliced on the end of my halyard and the shackle won't fit thru the grommet....

Good advice about carbiners spontaneously attaching to stays and lines. I got one that you secure closed with a screwing mechanism.

I'll have to look into soft shackles, not familiar with that.

But assuming I can get a metal attachment, ring, or carbiner that will not catch onto things its not supposed to, is there a downside to attaching a shackle to another metal part?

An old salt (Experienced sailor) once told me "Never put anything on the end of a sheet or halyard that you don't want slapping you in the face."

Clap a whipping on the line an inch above the splice. Cut the shackle off. Use a bowline. Problem solved.

Seriously. A metal shackle on the end of a sheet or halyard can inflict serious damage on a sailor who lets the end get away from him. The weight of that shackle in the clew of a flogging headsail could mean death or serious injury to the foredeck crew.

 

[miatapaul]

An old salt (Experienced sailor) once told me "Never put anything on the end of a sheet or halyard that you don't want slapping you in the face."

Clap a whipping on the line an inch above the splice. Cut the shackle off. Use a bowline. Problem solved.

Seriously. A metal shackle on the end of a sheet or halyard can inflict serious damage on a sailor who lets the end get away from him. The weight of that shackle in the clew of a flogging headsail could mean death or serious injury to the foredeck crew.

Yea this is exactly what I was thinking, get rid of the shackle all together. Problem solved and potentially black eye avoided. Plus it gives you and excuse to practice making the knot.

 

[rikhall]

Ah guys (and gals) - am I missing something - he said the "head" of the jib. How is that going to hit anyone? It's up the top of the jib stay.

 

[Alex W]

When you are doing a sail change it is at deck level. If you are changing the sail in building storm conditions the foredeck can be a bouncy place.

I have to make some more soft shackles soon and could make one more for a nominal amount of you need one Matthew. You can also usually find them very cheaply on eBay.

 

[manatee]

Got any 3-strand laid line? Make your own toggle-and-becket (the classic 'soft shackle'), like the topsail-halyard-toggle, from Verrill's "Knots, Splices and Rope Work"

Read/download it free HERE.

 

[matthewwhill]

Thanks everyone. It sounds like a soft shackle would be good. I would plan to use it to attach the hard shackle on my halyard to the head of my jib... right? Like a link in a chain.

 

[Alex W]

You could just run the soft shackle from the spliced eye in your halyard to the sail and bypass the soft shackle. Or you could run the soft shackle around the head of the sail and link the hard shackle to it, both will work. The latter uses more room and if the sail is already at the maximum possible hoist then it may not fit.

 

[smurphny]

A halyard knot would be fine but might be difficult to tie onto the shape of the top of the sail. It may also be very hard to get off when you want to change sails. I'd go with a soft shackle or maybe a double bowline if there's room although I might worry about bowlines shaking out. How about a simple long shackle?