On Thu, 23 Mar 2006 19:58:11 GMT, "Roger Long"
wrote:

I think this was discussed recently here but it wasn't on my radar
screen at the time. Apologies if it’s too soon to bring it up again.

Would someone please tell me why standard snap shackles shouldn't be
used for safety harness tethers, at least on a casual cruising boat
where midnight headsail changes and spinnaker dousing isn't part of
the normal drill?

I looked at the double acting Winchard shackles that are supposed to
be the latest and greatest and the designer in me goes "Ugh". Your
fingers are in the way of what you want to clip to and the sharp edges
are going to be hard on jacklines or any other fiber. The tightwad in
me says something even less printable.

Does anyone have another recommendation for a boat where there is very
little deck work or much unclipping and moving around?


I use only Wiwchar or Gibb connectors for jacklines. I have a snap
shackle on the harness end.

On a deilivery from Hawaii, I was going forward in the middle on the
night on a tether with a biner attached to the jackline. The tether
fouled on the way forward. I gave it a tuck; it came loose, but
attached itself to a genoa sheet. I will never use another similar
system.

Jack

_________________________________________
Jack Dale
ISPA Yachtmaster Offshore Instructor
CYA Advanced Cruising Instructor
http://www.swiftsuresailing.com
_________________________________________