Shackle Repair

Quick Release Shackle

I use these quick release shackles in a lot of places on Reboot. The problem is that the string that releases the shackle rots out. Of course you would expect that things made for a sailboat would take into account sun and salt. It never ceases to amaze me how many products don't.

After several months of frustration trying to find a replacement cord (the broken one is visible in the upper right corner of the shackle, it looks dirty brown. It is at the swivel) and not finding them in several marine stores I realized that I was trying to replace a hunk of cord (duh.) I went into my sail repair kit, got out some waxed heavy thread and fashioned replacement pull cords. Total cost - zip. Total time - 30 minutes.

BTW the replacement cords (the wrong ones) available in the stores cost about $6.00 for three.

Fair winds and following seas :)