Modern materials such as Dyneema or carbon fibre are increasingly being used for fittings like thimbles, chainplates or shackles. Thanks to the properties of polyethene fibres, they are ideal for shipping and water sports: with a breaking load twice as high, a synthetic fibre rope weighs only one-seventh of a comparatively thick wire rope. The fibre's surface is also very smooth. Sheets and stretchers can slide through lightweight thimbles and loop rings without much friction. This makes blocks partially superfluous. The material is pretty easy to splice. As a result, many traditional equipment parts such as rope shackles, lanyards or lashings are undergoing a renaissance in the field of soft rigging.
Low friction thimbles & softrigging
Soft shackle
Heavy duty LIROS offroad shackle
€39.60 *
Heavy duty LIROS offroad shackles with a tube for protection from chafe.Shipping with factory certificate (ENEN10204/2.2). Employing a combination of modern DYNEEMA rope and old-fashioned rope work ("Fancywork"), these rope shackles were created to save weight, and have thus already found many applications. Under load they pull together reliably and cannot be accidentally opened. When closed under extreme loads, they remain easy to open. In addition, the high flexibility of the rope shackles makes them applicable for inaccessible places.
DYNEEMA soft shackle
From
€11.80 *
Using a combination of modern DYNEEMA rope and old-fashioned rope work ("Fancywork"), these rope shackles were created to save weight, and are used on many raceboats.But these shackles also offer benefits over metal shackles for classic yachts and voyagers:When attached to halyards and sheets, they reduce the danger of injury and protect the mast finish (for example, on wooden masts).Under load they pull together reliably and cannot be accidentally opened. When closed under extreme loads, they remain easy to open.In addition, rope shackles through their flexibility can be used well at inaccessible places.
Loop shackle SoftLink by WICHARD
From
€28.00 *
Rope shackle from DYNEEMA SK75 with a high breaking load and a practical forged stainless steel lock made by WICHARD for easy opening even after high loads.
LOOP soft shackle
From
€11.90 *
The handling of this double string soft shackle is quite basic and its fastening system is tremendously reliable.Additionally both Dyneema strings are always under the same load.
Loops
LIROS D-Loop
From
€18.90 *
Round sling spliced from high tensile DYNEEMA SK99 and equipped with a savety seam.For the rethreading and for other soft connections.Colour: silver grey.
Dyna snatchblock
Dyna snatch block
From
€87.00 *
Light, high tensile snatch block with a DYNEEMA soft shackle which runs through the hollow axle of the sheave.These blocks reach with very high safe working loads (SWL) using this technique.The sheave runs on a composite fibre bush bearing and is lead sideways through a ball bearing.In order to open these blocks the plastic cheeks on the side can be twisted around the hollow axle. A design, which ensures a very simple and quick handling of the block.
WICHARD MXLEvo soft block
From
€59.80 *
Open fairlead eye made from high tensile Duplex stainless steel and an endless DYNEEMA loop. This small and compact cast steel part can replace conventional snatch blocks and sheave pulleys with slow running lines and thereby displays enormously high breaking loads and much less weight. On one side the DYNEEMA loop is only slipped over, meaning the soft block is easily opened and closed. Typical applications: z. B. mast heel block, barber hauler, gennaker foot block.
Low friction thimbles
Low friction thimble with DYNEEMA loop
From
€42.90 *
High-strength aluminium thimble with tied-in DYNEEMA loop.They can be fastened quickly an easily on fittings or eyes in order to lead lines or sheets.The effective length (NL) specified is the effective length of the readily adjusted loop.The working load (SWL) specified is equal to one third of the breaking load (BRL).
Low friction thimble
From
€16.90 *
High-strength aluminum round thimbles with a special, extremely smooth and low-friction surface.The round thimbles can replace heavy blocks in many places in modern "soft rigging".Color: black.This idea is centuries old, they are, so to speak, the successors of the traditional Pockholz-Klotjes.
Low friction aluminium LOOP ring
€48.00 *
Very light LOOP rings made from high-tensile aluminium with an extremely smooth and low friction surface.Because of the elliptical profile of the rings, sheets and cordage can be routed and guided in an optimal way.The LOOP rings allow for a number of lines to be lead through simultaneously and thereby produce a 3D hauling point or to function like a purchase reduction of the barber hauler.The maximum working load should not exceed more than half of the stated breaking load.
MXEvo halyard shackle WICHARD with captive pin
From
€57.00 *
The idea originates from the classic gaff shackle, but this forged WICHARD shackle is employed in the "modern rigging" instead of a block, for example for 2:1 sheeting of the main sail or the gennaker.The polished shackle redirects the line with very little friction and has nevertheless a higher strength and smaller overall length than a comparable block.The rack at the head of the shackle is meant as becket for a 3:1 reduction.With captive, high resistant pin.
MXEvo halyard shackle WICHARD with allen head pin
From
€57.00 *
The idea originates from the classic gaff shackle, but this forged WICHARD shackle is employed in the "modern rigging" instead of a block, for example for 2:1 sheeting of the main sail or the gennaker.The polished shackle redirects the line with very little friction and has nevertheless a higher strength and smaller overall length than a comparable block.The rack at the head of the shackle is meant as becket for a 3:1 reduction.With allen head pin.
KLOTJES wooden thimbles
Cringle / thimble
From
€38.70 *
Cleanly turned round hardwood thimble. The thimble is employed to turn and guide the lines (i.e. halyards at the mast, foresail sheets). It can be sewed, tied or spliced on. For smaller sizes check out our low friction aluminium thimbles from the soft rigging range.
Strop block
DAVEY Stroppblock Ashwood, Tufnol Sheave
From
€107.00 *
Very compact blocks, made from varnished ash with tufnol sheaves, in an attractive rounded design, re-created in the English style of the 1920s. For binding or splicing in jib sheets or backstays. Technically, it is a modern yacht block. The, in comparison to the housing, large Tufnol sheaves, in combination with the overlarge axes, ensure that the blocks run very smoothly. Special feature: The stainless steel axis is only attached with a screw, so the blocks can be easily dismantled for maintenance and overhaul.
Ashwood sheet strop block
From
€69.00 *
Classic pear-shaped block to be tied onto the jib sheet pennant.Single-sheaved.Built from first-class ash wood, laminated for seawater-resistance, unfinished.With nylon sheaves and stainless steel pins.
Single sheave strop blocks made from ashwood
From
€69.00 *
Classic single sheave working blocks made from ash wood, with nylon sheaves and stainless steel pin.Laminated with seawater proof glue, copper-riveted, not varnished.It can be bound in a grommet or spliced.
Hooks for control lines
Bronze hook
€35.50 *
The hook is being spliced into the halyard in order to get a step-down ratio of 2:1 at the end of the rope.On small boats the halyards (up to diameter 10 mm) can easily be hauled this way.Material: tumbled bronze with matt finish.
Tensioner pulley block made from bronze
From
€91.80 *
The block is spliced into a tack purchase or halyard with the result, that at the end of the line a 2:1 reduction for tensioning is possible, without the need to slack away the whole length of the tackle.
Bronze lashing hook
From
€20.40 *
Small, very robust lashing hook made from tumbled bronze with matt finish.