Posted by Scott Andrews on December 21, 1999 at 11:30:51 in 192.11.223.101:
In Reply to: Prow shackle / Breast hook posted by Jesse on December 20, 1999 at 22:43:18:
: On the wreck, there is a long shackle flopped forward just above the prow. I know all of you have seen it. I assume that is the prow shackle connected to the breast hook. Please correct me if I am wrong. I am considering using the bent eye of a needle as the shackle with about half the needle embedded into the plastic. I am also considering whacking off the antenna piece and using a needle there too. They both should hold the rigging nicely. Just curious if anyone else has tried this.
: Happy Holidays everyone!
: Jesse
Jesse,
This shackle would normally be rotated back a bit over 180 degrees. There is a double wire stay to the foremast from this point. The two bottle screws or turnbuckles that adjust tension on these wires are hooked to this shackle. This hardware and rigging shows well up in several of the forecastle photos and is also portrayed nicely in Cameron's "flying" scenes. The shackle itself appears to be basically just flat iron strap stock bent into a "U" and pinned through the extension of the stem casting with a large clevis.
Scott