Crickets and Swivels

Shackles and swivels are essential nautical accessories and are used in a variety of applications, from mooring to sailing to fishing. They are designed to ensure strong and reliable connections, often made of stainless steel or other high-strength materials.

🔹 Nautical Crickets

Shackles are metal connectors with a removable pin, used to connect lines, chains, blocks and other accessories.

✅ Types of crickets:

• Straight Shackle ➝ Used for static connections and linear loads.

• Grillo Lira (Omega) ➝ It has a rounded shape, ideal for multidirectional loads.

• Shackle with ring pin or bolt ➝ Ensures a secure closure even under strong tension.

• Quick Release Shackle ➝ Perfect for applications where a quick release is required (e.g. sport sailing).

📌 Available materials:
✔ AISI 316 stainless steel (resistant to marine corrosion)
✔ Galvanized steel (cheaper, but less resistant to salt water)

🔹 Example of use: Connection between mooring line and cleat, fixing blocks on sailing rigging.

🔹 Nautical Swivels

Swivels allow free rotation between two connected components, preventing twisting of lines and chains.

✅ Types of swivels:

• Classic Swivel ➝ Two swivel eyes to avoid tangles in the lines.

• Swivel with Snap Hook ➝ Perfect for furling headsails or for anchoring.

• Ball Bearing ➝ Reduces friction and improves smoothness of movement.

• Chain Swivel ➝ Prevents anchor chain from twisting.

🔹 Example of use: Prevent the anchor from twisting when setting sail or improve the maneuverability of a furling jib.