Wichard snap shackles corrosion

[Emerald Sea]

Our Wichard shackles/snap shackles also look the worse for wear after 3 years being exposed to sun and salt but it surface corrosion or staining rather than inherent corrosion i.e. pitting, etc. However, Im still surprised as Wichard generally has a good industry name for providing top quality products (also seen in their price) and yet many of my no-name brand 316 shackles are gleaming after same amount of years.

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by Emerald Sea

Our Wichard shackles/snap shackles also look the worse for wear after 3 years being exposed to sun and salt but it surface corrosion or staining rather than inherent corrosion i.e. pitting, etc. However, Im still surprised as Wichard generally has a good industry name for providing top quality products (also seen in their price) and yet many of my no-name brand 316 shackles are gleaming after same amount of years.

316 is something like 1/5- 1/4 the strength of 17-4.... Heat treated 17-4 is amazing... They used to use it for bolts in the landing gear of jets, not sure anymore...
17-4 ph can have a yield strength as high as 200,000 psi! Yield strength is where it bends not where it breaks! 316 is likely 35,000-40,000 in the most non corrosive configuration IIRC.

[chouliha]

Originally Posted by Emerald Sea

Our Wichard shackles/snap shackles also look the worse for wear after 3 years being exposed to sun and salt but it surface corrosion or staining rather than inherent corrosion i.e. pitting, etc. However, Im still surprised as Wichard generally has a good industry name for providing top quality products (also seen in their price) and yet many of my no-name brand 316 shackles are gleaming after same amount of years.

We have noticed over the past 20 years that all of our Wichard stuff shows severe rusting compared to other manufacturers. The fold down pad eyes which we love, snap shackles, regular SS shackles all rust way more than other brands.

I am not surprised by the photos.

Chuck
Jacaranda
Huahine, French Polynesia

[SVNeko]

The Wichard stuff on my boat is usually pretty good.

[SV Bacchus]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

316 is something like 1/5- 1/4 the strength of 17-4.... Heat treated 17-4 is amazing... They used to use it for bolts in the landing gear of jets, not sure anymore...
17-4 ph can have a yield strength as high as 200,000 psi! Yield strength is where it bends not where it breaks! 316 is likely 35,000-40,000 in the most non corrosive configuration IIRC.

I'll take strong over pretty any day.

[double u]

...their HR (high resistance) stuff is less corrosion resistant (they say so themselves)
(&btw: on 2rtw Wichard stuff was among the very few pieces of equipment that I naver had to think about, the only other coming to mind being my Seiko quartz navigation watch

[Benz]

I was using some Wichard snap hooks in an applicaton that put them underwater for several days at times, and they developed some visible rusty crevices. Not Wichard's fault: stainless is an inferior metal for that use. So I try to avoid stainless in very wet places. I have other Wichard kit high up the mast, and it's shiny as the day I bought it.

I've seen, often, the rust on the folding padeyes--not only on the Wichard high-test, but on Harken ones too. Perhaps titanium padeyes with Ti bolts are the way to go?

But as far as the OP's shackles go, I think he needs to go soft shackle, and never worry about corrosion again.

Ben
zartmancruising dot com