x-no-archive:yes "Vito" wrote:

"Jack Dale" wrote
I remember Practical Sailor testing both knives and tethers by
recording how quickly a tether could slashed.

Also, I believe that when one of tall ships went down a crew member
could not get free of his tether and was dragged down.

Since then, snap shackles seem to be the favoured attachment method at
the harness.

Does anyone have any experience with or knowledge of the efficacy of
the snap shackles? Can they be released under load?

Tack shops and farm supply stores have quick release shackles that work
reliably under load. (Don't ask .... They have a sliding sleeve and a
hinged hook sort of like a pelican snap on a lifeline gate but more
substantial and easier to work.

The harnesses used for roofing work (construction) also have snaps
that release when desired but not by accident. (if you fall off a
roof, you want to stop before you go very far so that the stop - even
if before you hit the ground) doesn't injure you severely) One of the
guys in a shop that I inspected wanted to use his sailing harness rig
for roofing work, but it would not have been satisfactory because it
didn't have the correct type of snap attachments.

grandma Rosalie