Thank you for joining us for this new tutorial. I'm going to show you how to make a soft shackle.

Why use a soft shackle?

·         To secure an item on board

·         Easy to open and close

·         Significant weight saving compared to stainless steel

·         Easy to make

You will need:

·         A measuring tape

·         A hollow needle

·         A knife

·         A cutting board

·         A large sewing needle

·         A small-diameter messenger line

·         A black marker or a white correction pen (depending on the color of your braid)

·         A rigid element with the same diameter as your rope

·         Dyneema braid in the diameter of your choice

Steps:

1.       Fold the Dyneema braid in half. Mark the position of the loop, then make a second mark halfway down each leg.

2.       Insert the needle at the loop mark and exit at the second mark.
Tip: Insert on the loop a rod with the same diameter as your rope to ensure the final opening fits properly.

3.       Make the bosco’s whistle knot.

4.       Make a knot between the two ends to form a loop.

5.       Pre-stretch the shackle using this rope under tension with (ideally) a winch.

6.       Cut the rope and burn the end.

7.       Open the eye two to three times the diameter of the bosco’s whistle knot.

8.       Thread a messenger line through the braid at this position.

9.       Splice it back onto itself, then tie a stopper knot.