How to tie a Stronger Soft Shackle

Learn how to tie a stronger soft shackle, this light weight alternative to a standard shackles gives you the strength of an ordinary shackle without using metal which can often damage your hull, spares or sails. It has twice the breaking strain of the standard soft shackle making it ideal of high load use cases.
Please note that the commentary and table from the 55 sec to the 1min 15 sec mark should reference the Circumference not the Diameter of the soft shackle.
If you liked the demonstration on how to create a stronger soft shackle and want to give it a go yourself you can get purchase the tools used in this video by following the links below :-
Ronstan Splicing Kit (55376)
amzn.to/3hnXT5I
Carbon Steel Shears 6-1/4 inch - Kevlar, Dyneema, Vectran, Spectra
amzn.to/3goCtUL
With increased strength of modern Dyneema rope you can now make your shackles out of relatively thin rope while still getting a product which is more than likely still stronger than the metal alternatives.
If you want to make your shackles stronger again update your knot to a Button Knot. The larger diameter of the button knot increases the weakest point of the shackle, were the loop rest against the knot under load. You will need to allow a little more rope to tie the Button Knot, it is however worth the additional strength you gain.
How to tie a button knot
• How to Tie a Button Knot
Thanks for taking the time to watch this demonstration showing you how to create a Stronger Soft Shackle. The team a Bottom up Boats appreciate your support. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, this helps us grow the channel and to create additional "How tTo" sailing content which intern helps more aspiring sailors take up this great sport.

[@BottomUPBoats]

Please note there is an error in the table at the 1min 5 sec mark fo the video, this should say Circumference, not diameter. Oooops....

[@jadekayak01]

Now that is good too.especially the diamond knot bit

[@BottomUPBoats]

Lots of options, once you learn the basics you can mix and match depending on the rope you have and the use case you are using it for.

[@Hootyhoo-jq9vq]

Excellent video. Thanks mate

[@BottomUPBoats]

No problem 👍 Glad you enjoyed it thanks for stopping by.

[@nroose]

Theres a mistake at about 3:30 where he should pass the two tails around in the same direction that they were going and the first tail he passes, he passes it backwards.

[@BottomUPBoats]

Thanks Nick, good spot. This is corrected in a later video kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIPJZKB7fZtmhKs

[@TheShoelaceBandit]

Attention! The diamond not was not tied correctly!!! I know that it's already been brought up but the comments but wasn't clearly stated.

[@BottomUPBoats]

We produced a later video which corrects the issue you and others pointed out. Thanks for stopping by and for the feedback. kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIPJZKB7fZtmhKs

[@RonMTube]

I've made both internally spliced and open-legged, like in this video, but in the end don't both versions actually spread the load over two lines, making them equally strong?

[@BottomUPBoats]

Great question Ron, while both versions have two lines break tests have proven that the internally spliced version is not as strong as this one. The other key factor is the knot you use, I tied this one with a diamond knot. If you upgrade to a Button Knot which allows you to tuck the tails inside the two lines of the shackle you get 4 rope thicknesses at the key locking point. This version with the button knot is even stronger again ! With winter fast approaching you have inspired me to make a video which break tests the various soft shackles. You can learn the button knot here kzbin.info/www/bejne/qmmqmmyLpLima6M

[@jadekayak01]

@@BottomUPBoats and i thought it was only as strong as the single line that is the loop

[@tickingawaytoo]

we finish Dyneema lines with crazy glue. give it a shot.

[@BottomUPBoats]

Thanks for the tip, a couple of my recent efforts have come loose after a season of use. I will give this a go to see if they will stay in place. Nylon braids melt when heated which give them a good finish which holds tight. The crazy glue option would get a similar outcome 👍👍👍👍

[@Cous1nJack]

Heat shrink.

[@martinlaforest1351]

Is it not 20cm circumference?

[@BottomUPBoats]

Martin, I should have paid more attention during my high school geometry classes. Yes you are correct, the table and voice over should say CIRCUMFERENCE not Diameter (from 55 sec to 1min 15 sec). Thanks for watching and for the feedback.

[@rev.dr.funnyshoe7497]

Diamond knot is not tied Correctly.

[@BottomUPBoats]

We corrected this in a later video. How to tie a Diamond Knot kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIPJZKB7fZtmhKs