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Attaching the mainsheet blocks to the boom vail and steering pedestal is slowing my rigging/derigging. I'm considering replacing the pin shackles with snap shackles, but I'm concerned with unintentional opening. Old salts experience and thoughts appreciated.
thanks,
Chris

i am certainly not salty - and have little to offer most of the time - but - i have a snap shackle on my main sheet traveler and it sux. it comes unfastened frequently. I can only imagine what would happen if a snap shackle let go underway if used on the main halyard - geez - i would panic and run aground.

I've had snap shackles top and bottom since I bought the boat. They have never released on their own, they look great and save a lot of time. Also they allow me to store the fiddles and line below so they are in great shape and won't need replacing for decades. I brought the gear into Waste Marine and bought the largest ones that would fit, they cost a lot but are well worth it.

As an ex-rock climber I use my old harness carabiner. These are locking carabiners with a sleeve that screws down to prevent accidental opening. Should be able to find these at a rock climbing centre. They are expensive but they are built to handle shock loads as well.

I use them also, but the heavy duty kind.
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... sNum=10904

Don't get the first one one the list. Don't recall if I have the second or third on the list but they're both suitable for mainsheet duty, will never release on their own and working loads exceed those of your blocks.

I changed the shackles on the main sheet and boom vand to snap shackles soon after purchasing my . I have sailed frequently and in high winds. I have never had a shackle release. I can tell you they are tremendous time savers when rigging at the ramp. Like others have said, they are expensive, around $45 a piece. I only use one on the main sheet, just to attach to the pedestal. The other end stays with the boom.

Look at the snap shackles at west marine.
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... assNum=324

The standard bails are made for halyards and sheets and have a functional load of almost 2,500 lb.

I have been using a snap shackle to attach the mainsheet to the traveller since purchasing our in 2005. We trailer-sailed our first season, and it was definitely a rigging time-saver. Now it is handy for getting the mainsheet out of the way when we are in our slip. You can see the shackle in the lower photo of this mod page, which details our upgrade to a 5:1 rig http://macgregorsailors.com/modt/index.php?view=1091

http://www.marinepartdepot.com/newststtashw2.html
These are the one I bought for my forward life lines so I could release when maunvering the spreaders. I think I may go up to the next bigger size for the main; may drill a pin hole through the bail loop and sliding pin to install a hairpin for extra insurance.
thanks to all who replied.
Chris

The difference between them opening or not will basically be reflected in the price.

If you go Wichard or similar you will pay $$$ but they wont open. The cheap stuff may or may not, in my experience

this is a big rigging timesaver of course.

they work fine...as long as they are big enough...these units cost $3.00 each...made in China i think...I have them on all my connections...



Puggsy

Ill support your World Constitutional right to use the snap shackle of your choice.

Ill exercise my right of advice to not follow this route - not a place to use a 3 buck piece of kit imho.

puggsy, I've been buying stuff from Harbor Freight(all made in China) like a woman with a shoe fetish (cause it's cheap and I have some sort of sickness) and I found that stuff tends to break, like a 6"c-clamp that snapped in half first time I used and my HEAVY DUTY silver tarps that last about a year and I'm in the rainy Seattle,WA area where the sun doesn't shine all that much At that price at least you can carry plenty of spare backups. Just watch out for flying metal bits and other stuff

ski.....

if those tarps are in a sunny place and flapping....... give it 6 months........ that is about how often I replace them.

We have had the problem of a shaking snap shackle coming loose. Our solution is to use a short piece if tubing that is just long enough that the shackle can be opened. When the shackle is close in place, slide the tubing down over the shackle mouth so that it can not open. Problem solved!

TUBING.....that's a great idea; definitely problem solved. Thanks goddardw.