Handmade pendants add grip and color
Issue 119: March/April 2018
Shackle pulls can spruce up zippers, shackles, key chains, and many other pieces of hardware on your boat. You can purchase pulls for about $5 each from your local marine chandlery or, by following the steps below, make them in minutes from short pieces of spare line. Making them yourself is easy, and it’s nice to be able to match or color-code them throughout your boat. Start with about 3 feet of lightweight 4mm (5/32-inch) nylon line. Fold the line in half and point the loop down. We’ll call this the main loop.
1. Create a loop on the left and a loop on the right. You can adjust the length of the main loop depending on how you plan to use your shackle pull; I start with about 5 inches.
2. Bring the left loop over the main loop and under the right loop, Figure 1.
3. Bring the right loop over the left crossing line, under the main loop, and up through the left loop, Figure 2.
4. Pull this knot tight. It will feel awkward at first, but after the next braid is complete, you will be able to cinch it all together nicely.
The process repeats now from step 2 but starts with the opposite side.
- Bring the right side over the main loop, Figure 3.
- Repeat the braid as you did in step 3 by bringing the left side over the right crossing line, under the main loop, and up through the right loop, Figure 4.
Note: Alternate the start of each braid. Always start from the side that has the “loop over top” from the previous braid. This will become clearer as you proceed.
- Pull everything tight to create a nice clean knot. Also note that the “loop over top” is now on the left side, so the next braid will begin with the left loop, Figure 5.
- Repeat steps 2 to 4 and remember to start on the side with the loop over top, Figure 6.
- Pull everything tight after each braid is completed. Include pulling the main loop tightly down while holding the knots. And again note the loop over top is now on the right side.
At this point, your shackle pull should be coming together nicely.
- Continue to repeat steps 2 to 4 until you have the desired number of braids and the main loop is the length you need. My completed shackle pull usually ends up with six to eight braids and about 1-1/2 inches of main loop left, Figure 7, Figure 8, Figure 9,Figure 10.
- Once you have reached the desired size and loop length, trim the ends and carefully heat and melt them so they are sealed and won’t fray.
- Your shackle pull is now complete, Figure 11.
You can use many different sizes and types of lines. I have used basic nylon braid along with reflective line. I now have handmade matching pulls attached to all my shackles so I can release them easily.
Jordan Snyder is a lifelong explorer and sailor who runs expedition-style multi-day sailing adventures and photography workshops aboard his newest boat, Base Camp II. He also works on environmental research and citizen-science projects to help promote awareness of complex conservation issues. Join his adventures at www.BaseCampSailing.com.
Thank you to Sailrite Enterprises, Inc., for providing free access to back issues of Good Old Boat through intellectual property rights. Sailrite.com
