Shackle for your ship
What are shackles and what do I need shackles for?
Shackles are roughly speaking U-shaped brackets with a screw or socket pin to connect two parts together. This usually involves a wire or rope, which has an eyelet at one end and is to be connected to the fuselage or a block or the like. The advantage of the direct fat knot is that the shackle on the one hand allows a larger diameter of the rope and on the other hand the danger of chafing is minimised with the round forged shackles.
Variants and materials
Shackles are usually made of steel or stainless steel and are either forged or cast. The splints of the shackles are also secured in various designs. If only one safety ring is passed through a hole at the end of one of the socket bolts, other shackle bolts are secured with threads or nuts. Meanwhile there are even shackles with captive bolts. Snap shackles secured by springs are also becoming more and more popular and promise simple handling with a secure lock. However, with the new Dyneema ropes, rope shackles are also popular. These have at least the same working or breaking load as their steel counterparts, but are far more variable and supple.