Wichard Snap Shackles - why so much $$$?!

[NorthernKitesAus]

Wow. I am shocked. Such a simple device, yet so bloody expensive - ie > $200, $300, even $800 USD

Yet other alternative QR Snap Shackles for under $20 USD, like Ronstan

Why!? Is it just a brand thing - Wichard?

Are there no other alternatives than the pin-pull alternatives, which I've heard are prone to corrosion, spring rusts, etc?

Just looking for a reasonable offering, for my harness. Thanks

[knot_moving]

wichard is forged, most others are cast and as you say have springs and plungers that can corrode, jam with sand and generally misbehave. On boats I sail on we use the standard spinnaker snap shackles and at time they decide to be a pain to release - have to pull them very straight along pin axis & has to be under some load, but not too much load to reliably and easily release.

Under heavy loads the friction on the pin jams it.

Wichard is about double the price of the standard spinnaker snap shackles in US markets.

Much as I would like to build a bar and experiment with them - the price has me still using my chicken loop

[Bille]

WOW -- they have gone up in price ; i paid $60 for the one i have
but that was a bunch of years ago !


https://www.westmarine.com/buy/wichard- ... ecordNum=5

[kostantin]

Hi,

quick price check in Germany, the shackles is 44€ something, plus shipping. By the way, I am kitesurfing since ~ 2000 something. In these days there was nothing serious on the market when it comes to safety. The only thing we had was this one on the picture. This design is the only thing !!!!! by Wichard useable that works when things get difficult.

What you have to change to get this stuff working even in the worst scenarios :

Replace the white string? In German it is called schnick schnack.
with a threaded axle made from V2A ( german for non-corrosive steel )
Add at both ends of the rod a small plastic ball.

No matter how ugly things get, you can hit either one or the other ball and the thing opens. If you hit your belly during what ever trick, it will open.
I would prefer a Wichard over a lot of solutions when it comes to save my live.


tks

Kosta

P.S.

As long as you thinking about " Should I or should I not"
We all are in love with the bass player.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8L2D2X ... 2c&index=2

[tkaraszewski]

Because the 4 3/4" shackle selected above for $269 has a breaking load of 8800 lbs and is designed for attaching spinnaker sheets on $1,000,000 racing yachts.

Maybe buying something that could hold your car three times over is overkill when you only need to hold one person's weight.

[Windigo1]

I have been using one from the Victory brand for 3 years for snow kiting it looks the same as wichard but it was like 25$ so far so good it's rated like 10 times my weight so that's good enough for me!

[Windigo1]

Here's a pic!

[juanpasala]

yeah... those tend to fail when you need to eject.

[knotwindy]

I have been using one from the Victory brand for 3 years for snow kiting it looks the same as wichard but it was like 25$ so far so good it's rated like 10 times my weight so that's good enough for me!

Yea, NO, it doesn’t look the same or work the same way. Not nearly as safe under load. You can continue using it but this post is for others who might be confused and think they are getting a cheaper version of the Wichard shown above.

[alpaia]

The one you are showing is designed to stay locked under load normally used for halyard so is dangerous
The wichard 2674 which has similar models in other brands is designed to be easily released under load