Halyard shackles

[fred1diver]

Hey everyone, quick question, I need to redo my running rigging and I’m looking at shackles, I know some people use soft shackles on their sheets but how about on the halyards? Would soft shackles be a good idea? They cost about the sam as regular shackles but are they as durable as stainless ones?

 

[Sefuller]

I've used soft shackles on my main halyard both on our 34 and now on our 39.

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

My main halyard is attached with a buntline hitch- never comes off.

 

[Joe]

I have grown away from pricey quick release snap shackles, Tyleska shackles, etc. and now prefer the simple stamped "d" shackle with captive pin.... keep it simple and economical.

There's actually a knot for tying the line to the shackle, the "halyard hitch".... but if you want to go without a shackle, as many sailors do nowadays, Charlie Jones' buntline hitch recommendation is excellent.

 

[SG]

Use a regular SS shackle if you want durable and easy for someone else to rig.

If you only do it yourself, and you're careful, you can use a knot (on you sized boat). But on that dark and stormy, or when you're trying to rig the boat quickly, or when you have to ask someone else to do it for you -- you're more likely to have an issue.

IF the knot let's go, and the line runs into the mast, you're SOL.

 

[Will Gilmore]

My main halyard is attached with a buntline hitch- never comes off.

Do you ever have trouble getting it off?

-Will (Dragonfly)

 

[Will Gilmore]

Here is an article about tying an integral soft shackle knot similar to what @Charlie Jones s/v Tehani uses on his sheets but with a cinching eye loop.
Integral Halyard Soft Shackle
Looks pretty easy to use. Would still need to explain it to a lubber, but then you'ld want to check the shackle was snapped or screwed on all the way, if a non sailor were doing it for you, anyway.

-Will (Dragonfly)

 

[jon hansen]

i use the halyard hitch. like charlie, it never comes off.

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

Do you ever have trouble getting it off?

-Will (Dragonfly)

Nope- when I need it off, a knife does the trick, and you lose less halyrd than redoing a splice

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

Here's the set up I use for sheets- In many many years, has never failed

 

[rgranger]

i use the halyard hitch. like charlie, it never comes off.
View attachment 173677

I've been using that knot for years... thought I made it up.... damn!

My outhaul is set up with that knot.

 

[jon hansen]

marlin spike seamanship, i love it

 

[capta]

I would never use a soft shackle on a roller furling halyard that stays up for more than a day sail. I'd be worried about chafe. A specific shackle (a halyard shackle, as in a post above) is produced for exactly that purpose and I can't imagine one reason not to use the shackle designed for that purpose.