I was out in heavy air on the weekend and a number of sail slides broke. I am going to replace all the slides. The plastic shackles are the snap variety. They look to be in good condition, but they are extremely hard to unsnap. Is there a trick to unsnap these shackles? Thank-you, Chris
Working with Plastic Shackles/Sail Slides
- Thread starter Chris7463
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All of mine broke
when I tried to open them. I was replacing my sliders and I ended up replacing the plastic shackles at the same time. Now I carry spares.
when I tried to open them. I was replacing my sliders and I ended up replacing the plastic shackles at the same time. Now I carry spares.
yes
I used a slot blade screwdriver by inserting it flat and twisting it to pop the shakle open. jim kolstoe, 23 Kara's Boo
I used a slot blade screwdriver by inserting it flat and twisting it to pop the shakle open. jim kolstoe, 23 Kara's Boo
plastic / nylon with metal fastners.....
To make this short,,my new to me 222 O'Day came with a full batten main that does not slide up and down the spar very well. After opening one of the other sailbags that came with the boat I discovered that this sail has t the O'Day 222 logo on the sail but has the larger round slides. While at West Marine I purchased a package of the larger round slugs just to see if they fit the mast groove. Knowing that they do I took the extra sail to the boat and hoisted her up and down. Works just fine with the larger slides.. The sail is a Neil Pryde and I think the original main sail. I went to NP web site and found Allegro Sails in Pleasent Pairie WI servicing the Great Lakes area. I am buying slides and shackles to replace all the ones on the full batten sail. He suggested using an "Easy Slide" at each batten ($5.00 ea) but everything else is ($2.00) ea.. My $75.00 order is $5.00 shipping. These slides are nylon and have a metal loop that the SS shackles hook too. Also I'm getting small clear plastic protectors where the SS shackles ride against the sail to keep the sail clean.
To make this short,,my new to me 222 O'Day came with a full batten main that does not slide up and down the spar very well. After opening one of the other sailbags that came with the boat I discovered that this sail has t the O'Day 222 logo on the sail but has the larger round slides. While at West Marine I purchased a package of the larger round slugs just to see if they fit the mast groove. Knowing that they do I took the extra sail to the boat and hoisted her up and down. Works just fine with the larger slides.. The sail is a Neil Pryde and I think the original main sail. I went to NP web site and found Allegro Sails in Pleasent Pairie WI servicing the Great Lakes area. I am buying slides and shackles to replace all the ones on the full batten sail. He suggested using an "Easy Slide" at each batten ($5.00 ea) but everything else is ($2.00) ea.. My $75.00 order is $5.00 shipping. These slides are nylon and have a metal loop that the SS shackles hook too. Also I'm getting small clear plastic protectors where the SS shackles ride against the sail to keep the sail clean.
Metal slides and shackles
We had a bad experience with plastic shackles and slides failing on a windy day. Actually they all failed during a jib on a windy day and the main "unzipped" off the mast and went flying. It was difficult getting it down. So since then I replace the top slide, a middle slide and bottom slide and shackles with metal and the rest in between with plastic. The metal slides were quite expensive compared to plastic. They came from Sail Rite. I keep a good supply of replacement plastic on board.
We had a bad experience with plastic shackles and slides failing on a windy day. Actually they all failed during a jib on a windy day and the main "unzipped" off the mast and went flying. It was difficult getting it down. So since then I replace the top slide, a middle slide and bottom slide and shackles with metal and the rest in between with plastic. The metal slides were quite expensive compared to plastic. They came from Sail Rite. I keep a good supply of replacement plastic on board.
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