Wichard Self-Locking D Shackle

High strength, forged 316L stainless steel and a clever locking system designed for demanding sailing applications.

A shackle is a relatively small piece of yacht equipment, but when it is connecting critical rigging or deck hardware, strength and security matter.

The Wichard Self-Locking D Shackle combines Wichard’s forged stainless-steel construction with a patented locking concept designed to help prevent the pin from accidentally loosening under vibration.

Available through Cavo Yachting in 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm and 14mm versions, this range provides solutions for everything from compact attachment points to significantly higher-load sailing applications.

Self-Locking System – Designed to Stay Secure

The key feature of the self-locking versions is the design of the pin.

When correctly tightened, the head of the shackle pin locks into one of the indentations in the body.

The principle is simple:

Tighten → Pin engages in indentation → Helps prevent accidental release from vibration

This is especially valuable on a sailing boat, where rigging and deck hardware are constantly exposed to movement, vibration and changing loads.

Forged 316L Stainless Steel

Wichard manufactures the shackles from:

Forged 316L Stainless Steel

316L stainless steel is a premium material widely used in quality marine hardware due to its suitability for the demanding marine environment.

Wichard combines this material with forged construction, producing a compact shackle capable of handling substantial working and breaking loads. The range is designed and manufactured in France.

Five Sizes for Different Sailing Applications

For the Cavo Yachting variable product, customers can choose between:

• 6mm – Part #1203
• 8mm – Part #1204
• 10mm – Part #1205
• 12mm – Part #1206
• 14mm – Part #1207

The load capacity increases substantially as the diameter increases, making it easy to select the appropriate shackle according to the requirements of the installation.

Complete Size & Load Comparison

These are Wichard’s current published specifications. WL refers to nautical Working Load, while WLL is specified for industrial applications.

*Important: Wichard explicitly states that Part #1207, 14mm, is not a self-locking D shackle. It belongs to the same D-shackle range and retains the forged 316L construction and high load capacity, but it should not be described as having the self-locking mechanism of #1203–#1206.

6mm – Wichard #1203

The 6mm #1203 is the smallest variation included in this Cavo Yachting product.

Despite weighing only 22g, it delivers:

Nautical Working Load: 600kg
Breaking Load: 1,600kg
Industrial WLL: 320kg

It is an excellent choice for compact attachment applications where low weight and small dimensions are important.

8mm – Wichard #1204

Moving up to 8mm, the #1204 provides a significant increase in strength.

Working Load: 1,000kg

Breaking Load: 2,700kg

Yet the total weight remains only 55g.

This balance makes the 8mm version a versatile option for many sailing and yacht-hardware applications.

10mm – Wichard #1205

For applications requiring greater strength, choose the 10mm #1205.

It provides:

Working Load: 1,520kg

Breaking Load: 4,300kg

Weight: 98g

This is a particularly attractive middle-size option, combining substantial load capacity with compact dimensions.

12mm – Wichard #1206

For more demanding installations, the 12mm #1206 increases the capacity considerably:

Working Load: 2,080kg

Breaking Load: 6,000kg

The shackle weighs 193g, providing serious mechanical performance without unnecessary bulk.

14mm – Wichard #1207

The largest version included in this variable product is the 14mm #1207.

It provides:

Working Load: 2,400kg

Breaking Load: 8,000kg

Industrial WLL: 1,600kg

Weight: 312g

This makes it the strongest option in this Cavo Yachting product, with an impressive 8-tonne Breaking Load.

There is, however, one important difference:

Part #1207 is NOT self-locking.

Wichard specifically notes this on the official product page. It is still a forged 316L stainless-steel D shackle with excellent Working and Breaking Loads, but it does not use the self-locking mechanism found on #1203–#1206.

Compact D-Shaped Design

The D shape provides a compact geometry for direct connections.

Wichard recommends the range for standard shackle applications as well as attachment applications involving hardware such as blocks and heads.

This makes these shackles useful across a wide range of sailing and yacht-rigging installations.

Working Load vs Breaking Load

Choosing a shackle should never be based solely on its Breaking Load.

Wichard distinguishes between:

Working Load (WL) – intended for nautical applications.

Working Load Limit (WLL) – specified for industrial applications.

Breaking Load (BL) – the load at which the component reaches failure in testing and not the normal operating load.

Wichard states that its industrial WLL uses a safety factor of five relative to Breaking Load.

For yacht and sailing applications, customers should therefore pay particular attention to the nautical Working Load of the selected size.

Detailed Dimensions

These dimensions are useful when choosing a shackle because the correct selection depends not only on load capacity but also on pin diameter, opening dimensions and compatibility with the connected hardware.

Why Choose the Wichard D Shackle?

The Wichard range combines premium materials, high mechanical performance and practical marine design:

• Forged 316L stainless steel
• Premium Wichard marine hardware
• Self-locking system on 6–12mm versions
• Pin locks into an indentation in the shackle body
• Helps prevent accidental release due to vibration
• Compact D-shackle design
• Available in 6 / 8 / 10 / 12 / 14mm
• Nautical Working Loads from 600 to 2,400kg
• Breaking Loads from 1,600 to 8,000kg
• Excellent strength-to-weight ratio
• CE marking
• Suitable for standard shackle applications
• Suitable for attachment of blocks and compatible hardware
• Multiple sizes for different load requirements
• Designed and manufactured in France

Technical Specifications – Variable Product

One D-Shackle Range – Five Sizes

From the lightweight 6mm #1203 at only 22g to the heavy-duty 14mm #1207 with an 8,000kg Breaking Load, this Wichard D-shackle range allows you to choose the right dimensions and load capacity for your installation.

For the 6, 8, 10 and 12mm versions, Wichard’s self-locking design adds an important advantage: the pin engages with the shackle body to help protect against accidental loosening caused by vibration.

Combined with forged 316L stainless steel, high Working Loads and compact D-shaped construction, these shackles are a premium choice for demanding sailing and yacht-rigging applications.

Choose the appropriate Wichard D Shackle from Cavo Yachting according to the required diameter, dimensions and nautical Working Load.

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