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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Soft Shackles

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redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3474 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/30/2018 : 10:33:01

Well wouldn't you know it I bought new headsails and they require bigger shackles. So the adventure begins... re-rigging... So anyhoo, the bigger shackles are dangerous, heavy, expensive and still don't work well so I'm venturing into the world of soft shackles.. Starting with Dynema loops.

Ray in Atlanta, Ga.
"Lee Key" '84 Catalina 25
Standard Rig / Fin Keel

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3474 Posts

Response Posted - 08/30/2018 : 11:15:03

I was lucky my previous sails needed little room for the shackles. ( old head on left, new on right )

Ray in Atlanta, Ga.
"Lee Key" '84 Catalina 25
Standard Rig / Fin Keel

TCurran
Admiral

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USA
588 Posts

Response Posted - 08/30/2018 : 14:01:15

Ray, I use them on both boats, multiple places. they're pretty easy to make... all you need is youtube, some Dynema, fids, and a few cold beers.

Tom Curran
1981 Capri 25 Hull #101 "Dirty Debbie"
1988 Watkins 30
PAFB, FL

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4275 Posts

Response Posted - 08/30/2018 : 21:24:00

quote:
Originally posted by TCurran

Ray, I use them on both boats, multiple places. they're pretty easy to make... all you need is youtube, some Dynema, fids, and a few cold beers.

Or go to West Marine and they'll make them for you for a "small" fee.

It's worth it to me, frees up both hands for the cold beer.

Association Member

GaryB
Andiamo
'89 SR/WK #5862
Kemah,TX

Edited by - GaryB on 08/30/2018 21:25:36

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3474 Posts

Response Posted - 08/31/2018 : 06:09:06

<< all you need is >>

Thank you for the encouragement.... as usual I have to go all the way so first I'm looking for a case to hold my "Fidding" stuff... Where did yawl get your fids?

Ray in Atlanta, Ga.
"Lee Key" '84 Catalina 25
Standard Rig / Fin Keel

Edited by - redeye on 08/31/2018 06:10:18

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5239 Posts

Response Posted - 08/31/2018 : 06:51:42

Well Ray, you could fiddle with fids, and marlinspike knowledge is a good thing to have. But how about using nylon wire ties. Lightweight and adjustable. Get a few beefy ones.
But seriously, you can get stainless steel shackles and loop them ithrough your current shackles.
Or carabiners. Something like this
Def more than one way to ...

Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain � Milford, CT

Edited by - Voyager on 08/31/2018 06:56:11

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3474 Posts

Response Posted - 08/31/2018 : 10:37:57

The hank on sail single handed sailing is something I'd like to be able to do quickly with one hand. The smaller snap shackle has worked well. I've been finding the carabiner I've had to change to needs both of my hands to get the sail off the line. I'm ripping down the headsail in weather and attempting to get back to the helm quickly before I run aground.

so yep...looking at all options thank you.

Ray in Atlanta, Ga.
"Lee Key" '84 Catalina 25
Standard Rig / Fin Keel

Edited by - redeye on 08/31/2018 10:44:58

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3474 Posts

Response Posted - 09/01/2018 : 17:43:11

Making those wasn't too bad. It took about three to get the hang of it. The first two are ugly but I expect they will still work, Fid from West Marine and they are not fully hollow, what's with that.. I've never seen a fid that wasn't hollow all the way down the tube. Feel like drilling it out. Had some medical paper tape that worked to secure the line after cutting the ends tapered. Amsteel not dynema line.

And I found a carabeener from REI that captures the halyard on one end of the beener and strong, light and relatively inexpensive.

Ray in Atlanta, Ga.
"Lee Key" '84 Catalina 25
Standard Rig / Fin Keel

Edited by - redeye on 09/01/2018 17:55:22

TCurran
Admiral

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USA
588 Posts

Response Posted - 09/03/2018 : 05:29:28

See...not too bad at all. They look good, but no empties visible, how many beers (or rum drinks) did they take.

Tom Curran
1981 Capri 25 Hull #101 "Dirty Debbie"
1988 Watkins 30
PAFB, FL

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9017 Posts

Response Posted - 09/03/2018 : 08:28:31

quote:
Originally posted by redeye

...I'm ripping down the headsail in weather and attempting to get back to the helm quickly before I run aground. so yep...looking at all options...

If by "all options" you mean all options, (for single-handing), I'll throw two more into the mix:

1. A dousing line--I rigged this on a daysailer we had--a very thin line made to the topmost hank (not the head of the sail), led to a little block on the bow and back to the cockpit. A few yanks and the sail was down and held down. I can't vouch for how it would work with a 155 genny on a C-25, but it wouldn't involve much to find out.

2. Something I can vouch for: a roller furler! It changes your life! As I've often said here, for a relaxing evening sail to nowhere, we'd often leave the cover on the main and pull out the genny. Then pull the furling line and the boat is all buttoned up! And while reefing the main is almost always more effective in a blow, under duress, the quickest way to reduce sail is to roll up part of the genny. I know, I know... it's not "manly" sailing!

But racers are using them at all sizes and levels up to the AC, Volvo, and maxi class. (Well maybe not not the Volvo, but those guys are CRAZY!)

I'll shut up now.

Dave Bristle
Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT
PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired),
Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3474 Posts

Response Posted - 09/04/2018 : 11:17:54

<< but no empties visible, >>

Ahrrr...... just one little rum drink...

Ray in Atlanta, Ga.
"Lee Key" '84 Catalina 25
Standard Rig / Fin Keel

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3474 Posts

Response Posted - 09/04/2018 : 11:30:10

<< "all options" >>

decided to go with hank on with this boat. Didn't mention dropping the anchors when I'm up there so a downhaul would be another line up in a limited space, and I'm up there anyway..

But always good to hear the options, speaking of all options... I do dream on occasion of a trombone tube design to launch and retrieve a spin. like I saw once on a flying Dutchman..

That must have been a one off. I haven't seen one again.

Well.... Maybe they are around

Ray in Atlanta, Ga.
"Lee Key" '84 Catalina 25
Standard Rig / Fin Keel

Edited by - redeye on 09/04/2018 12:47:39

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3474 Posts

Response Posted - 09/04/2018 : 11:55:01

Do you think I could live with a hole in the front of my boat?

Ray in Atlanta, Ga.
"Lee Key" '84 Catalina 25
Standard Rig / Fin Keel

Edited by - redeye on 09/04/2018 11:58:07

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3474 Posts

Response Posted - 09/04/2018 : 12:54:56

Oh and back to topic.. I added a Dynema loop to the outhaul to make it easier to change when reefing.. much easier to snap the snap shackle to the loop than the sail grommet, leaving one side of the loop on the snap shackle.

Ray in Atlanta, Ga.
"Lee Key" '84 Catalina 25
Standard Rig / Fin Keel

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9017 Posts

Response Posted - 09/06/2018 : 08:10:22

Is your reef clew line not running to a block positioned so that the line ends up diagonal when fully reefed--pulling out as well as down? I can understand wanting more tension for more perfect shape (as long as you don't pull a slug out with your out-haul), but the clew line should give you "adequate" tension when you need to tuck a reef in quickly in a messy situation without resetting and re-adjusting your out-haul. (If you use a reef-tack hook, then I agree the out-haul isn't a problem.)

Dave Bristle
Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT
PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired),
Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3474 Posts

Response Posted - 09/09/2018 : 12:02:38

Ahhh... there you go again Dave.... making me hafta listen and discover a better way of doing things...

To reef I have been releasing the mainsail halyard as I tighten a cabin top reefing line next to it that runs to the reefing tack grommet. Then changing the outhaul block and snap shackle from the mainsail clew grommet to the reefing clew grommet, on the top of the boom ( no slug ). Then tying up the buntlines.

I've never really wanted single line reefing but now that the dynema/amsteel line is around and so light and slick it sounds like a nice option.

Something like this looks interesting (but mine runs back to a clam cleat on the cabin top )...

I'll hafta take a photo of what I'm using and post it for suggestions...

Ray in Atlanta, Ga.
"Lee Key" '84 Catalina 25
Standard Rig / Fin Keel

Edited by - redeye on 09/09/2018 12:09:32

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3474 Posts

Response Posted - 09/09/2018 : 12:13:12

I keep thinking a single line reef could get caught somewhere and rip the main.
( of course after my early experience of tying a buntline too tight

)

Ray in Atlanta, Ga.
"Lee Key" '84 Catalina 25
Standard Rig / Fin Keel

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