3/4 Shackle failed < 2 years

[Shaneesprit]

I have heard of shackles failing on moorings, Just assumes they were badly fitted.
I fitted this shackle, really oversized, only has a 25ft Cat.
Luckily no damage as I found this on mooring maintenance today.
Now I fitted this myself 3/4 Galvanised shackle lock really tightened the pin, and wired the pin with stainless locking wire. So I was a little shocked to find that the the threads have failed. The pin only held in place by the locking wire!
The shackle was connecting the dual mooring ropes to the buoy swivel.

What are your experiences?

[JPA Cate]

Use tested shackles. Or provide them for the person who services your mooring to use on your mooring, if you trust them.

Ann

[SV Bacchus]

Originally Posted by Shaneesprit

I was a little shocked to find that the the threads have failed. The pin only held in place by the locking wire!
The shackle was connecting the dual mooring ropes to the buoy swivel.

Do you have a pic of the failed shackle? Was the buoy swivel stainless? Maybe dissimilar metals caused failure?

Hope you have better luck with the new one.

[Sailmonkey]

What make is the failed shackle?

[Shaneesprit]

Was the same metals,
Will try and add pics tomorrow after I return to retrieve the mooring ropes before they float away.
I didn’t have any tools with me ( to cut the locking wire ) as less than a year since the mooring was out of the water as I had the concrete block replaced last year ( a real saga last year )
So any way I was expecting to do a quick inspection, as the oldest part of the mooring is less than 2 years and as I just said I was less than a year since it was out of the water.

[Benz]

I have had nothing but trouble with galvanized hardware from China. IMO, it's worth the cost to upgrade to a decent domestic brand. Here it's Crosby. Chicago makes OK stuff--it corrodes more slowly than the chinese junk, but is still less good than Crosby. If you have different grades of steel (like G40 and G70) together underwater, this can cause some corrosion issues as well.
Finally, Lanocote or Tefgel on the threads is the best thing you can do for them.

[UFO]

Originally Posted by Benz

I have had nothing but trouble with galvanized hardware from China. IMO, it's worth the cost to upgrade to a decent domestic brand. Here it's Crosby. Chicago makes OK stuff--it corrodes more slowly than the chinese junk, but is still less good than Crosby. If you have different grades of steel (like G40 and G70) together underwater, this can cause some corrosion issues as well.
Finally, Lanocote or Tefgel on the threads is the best thing you can do for them.

+1 To avoid cheap shackles from China and +1 for Tef-Gel

[Simi 60]

Originally Posted by Benz

I have had nothing but trouble with galvanized hardware from China. .

So don't buy the cheapest of the cheap.

But if you do even a little bit of research, evidence is there that shows due to the construction boom, China has an abundance of high grade steel, chances are your shackle/chain will actually be a higher grade than claimed and, tests have also been done imply galvanizing on at least one of the best known brands is considerably better/thicker than US and Australian chain.

[Simi 60]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

Use tested shackles.

Actual tested shackles.
Anyone can paint a pin yellow or green and palm it off as tested/rated.

[conachair]

Originally Posted by UFO

+1 To avoid cheap shackles from China and +1 for Tef-Gel

Better to avoid cheap untested shackles from anywhere, what country they came from is pretty much irrelevant.

[tkeithlu]

Let me suggest a lifestyle change for you, Shaneesprit. You own a boat that gets into trouble but have no tools for as simple a job as untying safety wire. A boat tool box is an obvious addition, but carrying enough with you to get out of most jams can really improve your quality of life - far fewer frustrations.

I carry a Victorinox Super Tinker and a tiny ViceGrip 4WR. They add very little to my pocket load (the ViseGrip lives in a little pouch on my belt). Having lots of toys that get into trouble (steel trawler, two other boats, antique Honda trail bikes), I find that I reach for them very frequently, and they solve a lot of problems without having to resort to various tool boxes.

I was separated at birth from Angus MacGyver, and most people won't go to my extremes when it comes to tools. But then, I've helped out a cruiser who didn't even have the tools on his trawler to adjust belt tension to his alternator. I hope that you will find your happy point in this continuum.

[CarlF]

Almost certainly cheap Asian metallurgy or manufacturing

It amazes me how people who would never buy unbranded mystery chain or an unbranded anchor grab an unbranded shackle out of a bin.

It's worth the few extra dollars to always buy Crosby or Chicago from a reputable chandler (there are counterfeit Crosby's out there). Of course go one size up from the chain. And if you are using G43 chain use a Crosby 209A High Test shackle. Look at the WLL differences between the the two.

[Shrew]

When I was on a mooring, my marina replaced the shackles and mooring pendants every spring.

[guyrj33]

I've very good success using silver anti-seize from loc-tite on mooring shackles.
They don't seize together and threads are intact.

[TBW]

Crosby, Crosby, Crosby
Have actually watched shackles etc being made in China.
Crosby - USA