LOOP soft shackles are a simple, yet highly versatile product. They can be used almost anywhere that you would use a conventional shackle and have an incredible strength to weight ratio, as you would expect from Dyneema®. The new LOOP Cover Shackles take things one step further, so let's have a closer look!
©Kohlhoff-Stuhlemmer Sailing
The name of the Ronstan SHOCK Block is derived from SHeaveless blOCK and reflects the growing trend for replacing ball bearing blocks, with “low friction rings”, in a whole range of sailing system applications. Lightweight, high-load with no moving parts, Shock blocks are perfect for control lines and small purchase systems.
You would probably agree that there are very few flat surfaces on a sailing yacht, whereas most hardware bases are flat. Using modern materials and construction methods, the innovative LOOP Flexi Stick-on padeye shines a bright light on this glaring anomaly and offers some interesting possibilities.
©Ronstan
At upffront.com we are passionate about performance sailing hardware and rigging. However, that doesn’t mean we are all about racing. It means we believe in modern materials and technology to deliver lighter, stronger products which can benefit all types of sailing boats from club racers to the smallest coastal cruising day-boats.
©MorfBlock
There is an increasing trend towards soft attachment of sailing hardware and rigging i.e. using a lashing or soft loop, however they are not a catch-all solution. In this article we look at the benefits and some caveats around the use of soft attachments plus discuss where metal fixings are still the right option.
Image: Gottifredi Maffioli
Superswift, from leading rope makers Gottifredi Maffioli, is a favorite among performance dinghy sailors and big boat sailors alike. When you take a closer look at the features of this versatile rope, it’s not difficult to see why...
