Darrell Nicholson
Editor
Recent Stories From this Author
Lightning Protection: The Truth About Dissipators
July 3, 2019 About this time of year, when lightning strikes become common, we receive a good deal of mail asking about static dissipators...
Do-It-Yourself Bird Deterrents
May 1, 2019 As we found in our last major test of bird deterrents, there is no perfect solution for every bird problem, but we’ve come...
Lightening Up the Sailing Load
April 22, 2019 Still trying to find a place to stow everything for that big summer cruise? Here are a few organizing accessories that we've...
4 Types of Pocket Cruisers
March 21, 2019 The recent release of Steve Wystrach’s outstanding documentary film Manry at Sea about Robert Manry, the former copy editor...
Drawing the Line on Boat Design
July 11, 2018 A New Zealander greatly influenced by the traditional craft of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, famed multihull designer Ian...
Do-It-Yourself Fuel Tank Cleaning
June 6, 2018 Depending on the size of your fuel tanks, having a professional clean your tank and dispose of the dirty fuel can cost more...
Sailing in Gusty Winds
May 16, 2018 One of my biggest mistakes in life was waiting so long to sail the Great Lakes.
Choosing a Bottom Paint
April 16, 2018 This month's report on freshwater bottom paints is another reminder that the most effective paint in our testing might not...
Staying Safe in the Boatyard
March 12, 2018 My pal Jimmy’s inflatable dinghy sprung a leak. It was a simple repair. He hoisted the boat aboard, put a wire wheel on his...
Educating the Sailor: Start Small
January 15, 2018 Learning to sail is simple. Thousands of youngsters perfect the essential small-boat skills over the course of a summer....
Inside Practical Sailor Blog

Tips on Choosing and Sizing Anchor Shackles
July 25, 2019
No matter what brand of anchor shackle you decide to use, understanding sizing and grades of shackles is essential, since this connector between your rode and anchor is often the weakest link in your ground tackle. And the weakest point in the shackle is often where the shackle pin meets the body. When the shackle pin or body is loaded from an angle, the shackle body can be forced open, causing the pin to break or fall out. This is the most common failure we have seen in our testseven when under straight-pull loads.
Resources
Reader Questionnaire
Which of the following best describes your approach to bottom paint?
- I choose my own paint, but I let a professional apply (521 votes)
19%
- I let a professional apply the paint that he (or boatyard) recommends. (329 votes)
12%
- I choose my own paint and I apply it. (1639 votes)
60%
- I apply paint that a local professional or boatyard recommends. (254 votes)
9%