soft shackles
 

There seem to be several approaches to DIY soft shackles. What experience do people have and what instructions are available? Thanks

Colligo
 

Hi,
The Colligo Marine website has a video of how to make Dyneema soft shackles. They use a "Diamond Knot" over which a loop cinches, so the whole thing is made of one piece of line. It is also possible to splice a loop in one end of a line, and splice the other around a toggle, which while not as strong as a purely dyneema shackle, looks far more nautical. I have no pictures of any to post, however.
Ben

More Soft Shackle Instructions
 

SparTalk member allene has a nice set of instructions for a hybrid design, combining elements of the Colligo and Kohlhoff style soft shackles, at http://l-36.com/soft_shackle_9.php

soft shackle
 

Thanks for the feedback. These give a good indication of how to do them. Colligo must have figured out that most of us are too cheap to buy their professional ones.

Tools for making soft shackles
 

I am finding that Brion Toss' Splicing Wand and Port Hudson Phids really help when making soft shackles. I could not do it without them.

Options
 

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Dorothy, you sweetheart, thanks for the kind words. Christian and I were just talking about you guys. Do be in touch.
Meanwhile, you and everyone else might want to know that the soft shackle world is evolving rapidly. We've gone from shackles that tested somewhere around 110% to 150% of the rope strength, to some that are pushing 260%, with further improvements on the horizon. Watch Allene's site for details. I hope we'll have some here, too, especially as the current strength champ is one of my babies.
Fair leads,
Brion