Wichard Snap Shackles

Wichard Snap Shackles from Jimmy Green – Precision-engineered from Marine-Grade Stainless Steel for Marine Performance

Wichard was founded by Henri Wichard in Thiers, France, in 1919. Over the past century, the company has gained worldwide recognition for the exceptional quality and reliability of its stainless steel components, particularly those produced through precision hot drop forging.

Hot Drop Forging is a manufacturing process where heated metal is hammered into shape in a mould under extreme pressure.

Wichard Hot Drop Forging enhances the internal grain structure of the metal, offering increased resistance to deformation and sudden failure under high dynamic loads. The result is a shackle that can reliably handle heavy loads on deck in the most demanding conditions, whether you are racing or cruising.

Wichard Snap Shackles are produced from either 316L or HR 17.4 PH marine-grade stainless steel, ensuring exceptional strength, consistently high break loads, and dependable durability. Wichard snap shackles combine safety, ergonomic ease of use and long-term durability in one expertly engineered package.

Wichard Rigging Shackles are available in a range of configurations, including fixed eye, swivel eye, side-opening, top-opening, and thimble eye options.

Wichard Rigging Shackles Facts, Features and Plus Factors

• Fixed or Swivel eye options

• Side and Top opening options

• Moulded Eye option to preclude the use of a thimble

• Captive Plunger Pins with Clevis Ring for rigging a pull lanyard

• Quick Release Lever design with lanyard for detachment under tension

• Speedlink Design for detachment by spike or fid under extreme load

Whether you're attaching sheets, halyards, or control lines, these shackles are designed for single-handed operation, maximum safety, and minimal maintenance.

Why Splicing is Best Practice

Pairing a Wichard snap shackle with a professionally finished splice ensures you get the most from both components. At Jimmy Green Marine, we are standard bearers for splicing rather than knotting for several critical reasons:

• Maximum Strength Retention: A well-executed splice retains up to 100% of the rope’s strength, whereas common knots can reduce strength by 40% or more.

• Smooth, Low-Profile Finish: Splices are streamlined, reducing the chance of snagging in blocks or jamming under load.

• Less Wear, Longer Life: Spliced connections distribute load more evenly and reduce concentrated stress points, thereby helping to extend the service life of both the rope and the hardware.

• Enhanced Safety: Properly spliced terminations are predictable and secure, reducing the risk of unexpected failure at sea.

For complete confidence in your rigging, especially in severe conditions, splicing is the smart, seamanlike solution.

The Jimmy Green Rigging Team can professionally finish all your lines for maximum efficiency and longevity onboard.

Explore the Jimmy Green Wichard Range of Snap Shackles

Jimmy Green Marine offers the full Wichard snap shackle range, with detailed product specifications, technical drawings, and informative details to help you make the right choice for your rigging.

You can add any shackle to a Jimmy Green splice using our Online Custom Build System to create a well-engineered rope-to-hardware connection tailored to your bespoke requirements.