Tips and Tricks for Making Soft Shackles

This is a video of the soft shackle workshops that I have been doing for other cruising sailors.

[@marchauptman962]

made my first shackle. Came out very good. I had to watch the knot part a dozen times to get it correct. In the end came out great. Thank you.

[@markrickel1632]

Thanks. Your explanation of the diamond knot is much easier to remember than others I’ve watched! Thanks!

[@davidpereira6473]

Your video gratefully received in UK. By far the clearest demo of a soft shackle; believe me I've tried to follow several others! I have made several soft shackles of varying lengths for securing and hanging coils of spare lines and warps in the cockpit for easy access. These shackles are non load bearing and so non dyneema is fine. I use "electricians scissors" to cut dyneema. Not perfect but adequate,

[@George-in-the-forest]

hyvin selitetty. Kiitoksia!

[@brentrasmussen2440]

Best method for tying a diamond not yet! I have watched at least 10 videos and this is the fastest easiest method. Also, completely agree that this is the best form of a soft shackle. While I have never had the "old method" fail, the loop get's quite large with repeated use for attaching spinnaker sheets. Switched to the new/improved method and they feel much more secure.

[@BethBrowne]

Vice grips trick is brilliant!!

[@FocoNoals]

Amazing to learn with that much details. 👍🏻

[@douggmann]

This is very good and clear. I am using the diamond know for 3/8 rope for the recovery kit on my car.

[@BenitoF2009]

Thank you for the great explanation! Really wonderful! Finally I got it.

[@apiletal]

The best tutorial i see. Thanks, really thanks.

[@jpe6701]

Very very good explanation! Thank you indeed! Would appreciate very much if you could make a similar video for a button knot. Thanks again!

[@hrmIwonder]

Awesome video! Thanks for making it!

[@rodx5571]

I use soft shackles for a different reason. I use them for 4x4 off road applications. Less weight, more strength, and if the shackle, winch, rope, or anchor point break, less chance of flying steel and serious injury or death. And the real reason, when i am on the trail and have to custom make one for a rescue, I look like a badass. Only if it works though. I also use them for dragging brush piles, uprooting trees, small ones of course. I can buy the rope for 20 or 30$ and make 20 of the small ones, or 10 ish of the big ones.

[@alistairlewis2461]

Thank you. Excellent teaching, careful, logical and easy to understand explanations.

[@apiletal]

Thanks. The best i ever seen.

[@jjjvclub]

Great tutorial! thanks!

[@canadianjoe3096]

Great Video, Thanks

[@felmeyjt]

excellent information conveyed well bud

[@geraldhayter]

Great Tutorial

[@davewalker5455]

Get a cheap knife that you don't care about and put the heat to it with a blow torch. It will cut like a regular hot knife, with little effort. You simply didn't have enough heat on your knife, when you attempted that final cutting.

[@kurtism9040]

Fantastic step-by-step instructions. Thank you. One question would be; whether or not the locking pass through would be a weak point. L-36 seemed to indicate so.

[@365survivalist]

This is a great tutorial 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 When weaving the two strands through each other, what distance from the exit holes do you leave before your go back through with the fid? You probably said and I'm going to watch this over and over before I go gor it taking down notes. Thank you for taking the time to make this video and share your experience and knowledge.

[@bobvedder2451]

Nice! I am going to make some soft shackles now! I have worked in rope rescue for years and have always used hard shackles, but this seems better.

[@1969darr]

@ Bob Vedder. I hope you are just joking. Or you just bought some family the winning lotto ticket if something goes wrong when you kill someone, does not matter if yur homemade SS fails or not you will be liable and either in jail or homeless. Best to keep the mouth shut.

[@OurDee]

Leatherman Raptor scissors work gread on Amsteel.

[@L-36]

Hey, you are making my soft shackle. btw, thanks for the shoutout!

[@ristolappala4339]

So, are you L-36? I really appreciate all of your info!

[@L-36]

@@ristolappala4339 I am. Thanks again.

[@glennhernandez4366]

Keep it going

[@paulkenyon8950]

Hi Risto, How long does the Dyneema line stand up to sunlight? Dyneema line and material is new to me. Thanks for the great instruction about making soft shackles. I sail but at the moment I'm using Dyneema line to make light weight rigging for anything to do with motorcycle camping and touring. I want to use the Dyneema line for rescue work--it is strong and light--but the line is so slippery it's hard to imagine how to work with it. Paul

[@abarrow4]

Hey Risto! Thanks so much for this great video. I can now actually make a button knot without looking at instructions! Your method and your instruction made it so easy. Question: I like your process for the "improved" soft shackle with the top that slips and a brummel down in the shackle to lock it. So far, I've been making the old fashion slipping (concentric) version. In your view, what are the pros and cons of the two versions? We miss you here in Banderas Bay. When are you coming back?

[@abarrow4]

Another question: I just made my first soft shackle in the end of a line. Can the improved version soft shackle be done this way?

[@ristolappala4339]

Hi Andy, we’ll be back in Banderas Bay in December. As to your questions, I find the improved shackle with the sliding loop to be way easier to use. I’m not sure what you mean about making a soft shackle at the end of a line. I did make up a soft shackle incorporating a low friction ring that I use as a fairlead for our spinaker tack line.

[@tanguerochas]

Do you have any drawings you could share for your frame/jig used to tighten the knot?

[@GetUrPhil]

Where can I find Synthetic Hollow Dyneema or Amsteel Rope? Can't seem to find any except for tow rope. Is that the same thing?

[@grahamlongley8298]

I use electricians scissors for cutting dynema

[@markprice46]

How do you keep it from undoing?

[@guyregev8973]

Can you please add a link for the ropes that you are using

[@garysams8615]

The diamond knot is a Turks head knot as in leather braiding isn’t it?

[@ristolappala4339]

A,turks head is a ‘woven’ knot that is used as a decoration or I have used it as a ‘ stopper’ on oars to position the oarlock. The Diamond Knot is different in that it locks down on itself so that it will not ‘roll’ and come loose. Hope that makes sense. 😋

[@johnmanning4895]

What is the starting length of your Amsteel?

[@johnmanning4895]

Ahhh. Found it. 48”. Great video!

[@ristolappala4339]

The starting length will naturally determine the finished size. I have made a couple of large diameter soft shackles with 3/8” Amsteel with a stating length of 8 feet.

[@mastpg]

If you use anything but a button knot, you're giving away kNs.

[@bendoring2274]

Sehr langatmig und umständlich erzählt, vieles wird doppelt und dreifach gesagt. Er könnte das in 5 Minuten auch zeigen...