I am wondering if anyone has used a snap shackle with a release style like this for their kite buggy automatic quick release? Are there any disadvantages to this style?

http://www.tylaska.com/index.php/snap-shackles/t5/

Those are usually designed to be released with a marlin spike (rounded pointy metal piece) and can be hard to fit a finger in the release, especially when under load. I use some Wichard trigger release of the same style on my sailboat, and they work great at releasing under load as designed, but can be hard without the spike to fit in the trigger. A standard snap shackle at least has a leash you can pull to open it, but they can be harder to open under load. Higher quality snap shackles should still operate well, especially under the smaller loads a kite would put on them, so I would stick with the standard style.

I was thinking of using a plug fid with a strap to my buggy for the release (option two).

I was also wondering how the more enclosed spring and trigger lever work in a sandy environment.

http://www.tylaska.com/index.php/fids/plug-fids/

The angle of pull and the angle of attachment is off 90 degrees.

I'll stick with my torsion wichards....

Quote: Originally posted by eric67m

I was thinking of using a plug fid with a strap to my buggy for the release (option two). I was also wondering how the more enclosed spring and trigger lever work in a sandy environment. http://www.tylaska.com/index.php/fids/plug-fids/

I'm holding a wichard one right now, and loose sand would probably be okay, but I can see how wet/sticky sand could pack in and prevent the trigger from depressing all the way.

can't do degree symbols...It wipes everything out. Also cannot delete.

I see, the pull is 90 off because this product needs to be pulled down towards the clevis and your spreader bar. In reality you need it to pull more 45-90 to the length of the shackle as you are flying up out of the buggy towards the kite?

If I have a spreader bar with a small loop that runs left and right along the spreader bar it seems like it should attach and swivel properly, unless there is something I'm missing.

The consensus in the sport is that the type shown is the preferred model for manual use. Mine came with a lanyard attached for manual release. Angus uses a handkerchief tied to another for the pull and that eliminates the pull angle issue. A pull cord rigged with fid tips is also a solution for pull angle. None of this would help with the AQR. I think Jeff depends on the user to ensure sand doesn't get in the piston and jam it. All sand grain sizes wouldn't be a problem but some are and it's happened enough to sway conventional wisdom for our sport.

Piston style snap shackles are prone to jamming with sand. If you use one you must insure that the shackle
is kept clean and is operated on a regular basis during use. I have had them take a lot of force to operate on
a sailboat, which is a much cleaner environment than the beach.

I guess I have a hard time with the sand plugging up the release. How is it getting in? Are you dragging it down the beach? I wear mine and at no time does it get dirty let alone full of sand wet or dry. I guess it's because I don't over think the idea, I actually speak from real life use.
The one spoke of is subject to keeping the pin and the part it rubs against free of dings, scars, gouges, and corrosion. It's also another piece that can get tangled up and or get lost. For me it needs to be pulled directly out, if it tries to come out at an angle it binds up.

Of all the wichards, snap shackles, and other boat amenities, I have a bag of those pieces that work or don't work. If you think you have a better idea, don't talk about it, show us how it works. Not to down play anyone's idea or thoughts but it has to get to the point of use before it proves one way or the other.
If you want to try the above mentioned release, stop by and you can try mine, it's in the bag with the other "didn't work" parts.

If your looking for a QR that you deploy I would save your money and just unhook the strop like you do every time your done flying. Just saying....

@ Ted your right about the clean aspect. I blow out my pulley after the AQR lets go and give it a few spins to make shire it's clean. I also use dry silicone spray once in a while on any part that is metal against metal. To me that's just common sense, much to the same thinking that I empty the sand out of my shoes when they get dirty.
Don't forget this boat part is not used on a boat, it's used for another purpose and is subject to a different environment.

I'm not sure what I was thinking. It is pretty silly to think that sand could get on a piece of equipment you're wearing while buggying on a sandy beach. :P

Seriously, I have one like the one used on the AQR and never had a problem with it jamming when I would test it. But enough other people had seen them bind up that I bought the non piston style to use instead. I can't see any way it could bind.

Quote: Originally posted by bigkid

If you want to try the above mentioned release, stop by and you can try mine, it's in the bag with the other "didn't work" parts.

I may take you you on this at some point when life is a little less crazy. It us always better to have something in hand than "imagine" how it will work.

It sounds like the pin or torsion style is the better way to go.

I tryed the torsion style and quickly found out that there is a top and bottom to it, and it can only be deployed on one side and pulled in one direction. Sorry to say I fly on both sides and in multiple directions, but that's me.:D

Piston type Snap shackles will bind up under load it is just the way they are made.
You can't change the laws of physics captain.
That being said the wichards can fail too this is the law of averages.
We are playing an extreme (ish) sport if there were no risks it would be boring (ish)

Why re-invent the wheel, when Jeff has a tested solution?

I can affirm the Big Kid design is foolproof - and I don't have the injuries to prove it.

Wait, that came out wrong?

Anyway, the only other one I would trust my b**t to would be the MK Splitter Race and good luck finding one of those bad boys.

Since my post I have gone away from this style. I spoke to Jeff and am using a similar pin style snap shackle that he uses. I also designed and fabricated an adaptor to replace the arm and wheel on a peter Lynn bullet spreader.