February 03, 2022 2 min read
Allen Brothers thimbles are an evolution from a product that has been used on tall ships for many years, originally made from wood and plastics. Thimbles can be used for lots of different parts of your boat from kicker cascades to a 2:1 halyard system.
These Allen Brothers thimbles have a simple design made from a single piece of high-grade aluminium that is CNC machined into its shape. The high-grade aluminium allows the thimble to have great strength while weighing so little.
The shape allows you to splice a line around the outside of the thimble and the low friction coating inside allows other lines to slide through the middle with ease.
Being low friction and having a smooth inside means your ropes wear less than a they would as a traditional loop or eye splice.
A thimble is a substantial weight saving over a 20mm block. With a higher working and breaking load than a 20mm block, they sound great. But they can't be used on everything. They are low friction but that doesn't mean they have no friction as they have no moving parts. Constant use under load and adjustment through the centre isn't recommended and a standard block would perform better in this application.
Thimbles can be used in lots of different places on your boat. From 2:1 halyard systems to traveller systems they can reduce the weight and the cost of replacing a damaged block. They can be also used on backstays as their low friction characteristics allow the rope to move while under a slight load.
Thimbles can be used from anything from over deck continuous control lines to tweaker lines for your symmetrical spinnakers to take up systems on asymmetric spinnaker halyards. With a great working and breaking load they can also be used in kicker systems and downhaul systems but you would need to check if your boat class allows this.
Thimbles come in a variety of sizes ranging from 15mm to 35mm and a selection of colours too. If you are interested in thimbles or splicing them into your new lines we can also do that for you. Simply get in touch with our team and tell us the length and thickness of the rope you would like them spliced to.
Explore our full range of Rope Thimbles or take a look at all of our Allen Brothers products.
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These are surprisingly difficult to find in chandleries which is surprising as they’re very useful for attaching boat hooks/deck brushes to the handrail. Low tech but good quality.
Good product, prompt delivery. I've tried various options for securing the clew to the boom but none are as effective or easy to release as this strap.
Very quick and user friendly service. Would recommend and will use again.
I had it sent to my son, who will bring it to the US with him next month, so I cant write a review until I get it!
I needed this small pin urgently for a sail training night, and it arrived in good time
Amazing service, the staff got our order in with no issue and quick delivery. The replica mast are a perfect alternative.
Excellent service. Arrived very quickly. Highly recommend, have used Sailing Chandlery several times - always quick and efficient.
I have the 270 boots 2020, But these 170 boots are great, much easier to get on and off and very grippy and comfortable
Great range of products, very efficient service, item arrived well packed and on time
Really strong, does what it needs to!
Great product, does the job for a good price
Perfect product at good price and fast delivery. Thank you.
Best spring/summer hiking wetsuit.
As per usual the Sailing Chandlery team got these to me in a flash! Amazing service!!!
I have previously used the Superwarm version of this hiker and it was brilliant!
I purchased these as I get far too hot in my winter hikers during the sweaty summer months!
Only used once so far, but were warm enough in 15 degrees C and worked exactly as expected!
Good size handle, comfortable grip. I find I have to go down a size in needle than that advised for the rope I’m splicing.
Fantastic service and reasonable prices