Tool for tightening/loosening a shackle pin

[BCRider]

Rich, that's a lovely job for a tool which I suspect will turn out to be very handy on your friend's boat.

beautiful work and a good deed too! Only improvement I could think of, but probably no room for, would be a spring loaded captive ball to engage the hole in the shackle bolt. That would make the fit a bit more positive, if that were an issue. But as I said, doesn't look like there's enough meat in the side to fit a ball, a spring and a way of keeping it all in there.

Having a sprung button isn't a bad idea since it would allow the hand to get pretty loose while getting a new grab. But as you say there isn't room for the usual ball and spring. But a narrow slot could be cut along the length up along the side and a lever inset so a rounded finger shape on the one end snaps into the hole of the pin's ear. The lever extends back up the shaft where it has a wider tongue that extends down into a shaft where it's pinned. And up a little further where a spring in a hole presses against the lever to put pressure on the other end.

Perhaps if your buddy commits "mistake #2" and it is lost overboard the Mk II version might include such a snap button? Really though what you made is likely to be around as long as the boat and I'll bet other folks ask where he got it and how to get one more often than not.

[754]

Some of you guys are over thinking this, unless the tool is meant to stay on when not in use.

[Michael Edwards]

Some of you guys are over thinking this, unless the tool is meant to stay on when not in use.

Yup. Just use the tool to break it loose, then use your fingers so you don't drop it. Way back in the day, my first good pocket knife was an all stainless Spyderco Mariner that had a slot on the side for small shackles.

[BCRider]

You're right, it would in all likelihood be just fine as is. It's no worse and likely a lot more secure than a Phillips screw driver after all.

Mostly the idea of the sprung lever to fit the low profile just sprung to my mind when I read the other post.

[BCRider]

Given how the shackle pins in the first picture are nested up close to the winch I'm thinking that the tool would be used for fully removing the pins...... and now I'm sort of thinking that the spring pin might not be such a bad idea since it would aid with retaining the pin from falling out and rolling away as it is drawn out of the shackle. And in fact the shape of the part that goes into the hole might even be better if it's got a barb on it so the pin is locked in place until the lever is pressed to retract the lock out of the hole.

It just depends on how often the shackle needs to be removed while underway and in potentially rough conditions.

None of this changes the fact that Rich did a really nice job on the tool though. It's just a point for pondering and discussion.

[Arcane]

I think I would have just added one of these so the regular clevis was up higher.

https://www.treestuff.com/store/catalog.asp?item=756

[loose nut]

Since it is for use on a boat why didn't use just use a marlin spike like other sailors do.

[Tom S]

I like it. It's simple, easy to understand and use, should last a long while, and looks sharp. Making something simple but effective can be more difficult than a complicated design.

[wierdscience]

I like it,does the job,looks good to boot,a win in my book!

Now you need to go into production,next years Westmarine catalog $79.95

[BCRider]

I think I would have just added one of these so the regular clevis was up higher.



https://www.treestuff.com/store/catalog.asp?item=756

Since it is for use on a boat why didn't use just use a marlin spike like other sailors do.

Go back to the first post. The shackle is nestled in tight where it's hard to get at with a marlin spike. And I don't see where altering the lay of the line off the shackle would aid with removing the pin in this particular situation with the roller jib unit.

Sorry to say but it's like some of you didn't even look at the picture in the first post. Or did and only saw the shackle. and not how it's nestled into the side of the furling unit.

[Lew Hartswick]

Sorry to say but it's like some of you didn't even look at the picture in the first post. Or did and only saw the shackle. and not how it's nestled into the side of the furling unit.

That is about average for, as a guess 60 percent, the replies to posts around here, unfortunately. On the other hand it's almost as bad for the OP to NOT include all the pertinent information. :-)
...lew...

[loose nut]

Go back to the first post. The shackle is nestled in tight where it's hard to get at with a marlin spike. And I don't see where altering the lay of the line off the shackle would aid with removing the pin in this particular situation with the roller jib unit.

Sorry to say but it's like some of you didn't even look at the picture in the first post. Or did and only saw the shackle. and not how it's nestled into the side of the furling unit.

I see that it can be in a bad position but back when I was a sailor a spike was all we had and possibly a small crescent wrench and we just had to do it. Not saying that your tool won't make it easier but how often do you take it off???

[Tundra Twin Track]

Nice Job Rich!!

[JRouche]

RichR, great job and thank you for posting all the process. With friends like you who needs a machine shop JR

[RichR]

That is about average for, as a guess 60 percent, the replies to posts around here, unfortunately. On the other hand it's almost as bad for the OP to NOT include all the pertinent information. :-)
...lew...

I thought the second picture in the first post illustrated the problem fairly clearly, but I suppose I could have added another sentence to
make it more apparent.