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:
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Straight Shackle ➝ Used for static connections and linear loads.
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Grillo Lira (Omega) ➝ It has a rounded shape, ideal for multidirectional loads.
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Shackle with ring pin or bolt ➝ Ensures a secure closure even under strong tension.
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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:
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Classic Swivel ➝ Two swivel eyes to avoid tangles in the lines.
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Swivel with Snap Hook ➝ Perfect for furling headsails or for anchoring.
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Ball Bearing ➝ Reduces friction and improves smoothness of movement.
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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.
