What is the Soft Shackle used for?

Connecting sheets, halyards, blocks, and anchoring points aboard; Replacing a metal shackle to cut weight and reduce impact-damage risk; Quick connections that open and close without tools; Lightweight anchoring in rigging and rescue with high-modulus rope; Temporary connections that need to be swapped frequently.

How do you tie the Soft Shackle?

The Soft Shackle is a shackle made entirely from high-modulus rope, such as Dyneema, light and very strong, used instead of a metal shackle in sailing and rescue. It consists of a loop of rope that opens and closes by hand, locked by a button (diamond) knot, with no metal parts at all. Follow the illustrated step-by-step, with a photo for every stage, on Desbravai.

Is the Soft Shackle hard to tie?

The Soft Shackle is rated hard, in the Lashings category and is taught with a photo at every stage on Desbravai.

What precautions apply when using the Soft Shackle?

Dyneema is slick: use the diamond knot and tighten it well, since simple knots won't hold; Tighten the button until it's hard (vise/pliers); left loose, it can be pulled into the shackle under extreme load; Inspect the high-modulus rope for abrasion and friction heat.

Soft Shackle

Q: What other names does the Soft Shackle have?

It is also known as Soft Shackle, Grillete blando, Grillete textil, Manilha macia, Manilha de Dyneema.

A shackle made entirely from high-modulus rope, light and strong, used in sailing and rescue in place of metal

Also called: Soft Shackle, Grillete blando, Grillete textil, Manilha macia, Manilha de Dyneema

What it is for

Connecting sheets, halyards, blocks, and anchoring points aboard
Replacing a metal shackle to cut weight and reduce impact-damage risk
Quick connections that open and close without tools
Lightweight anchoring in rigging and rescue with high-modulus rope
Temporary connections that need to be swapped frequently