Kenter Shackles — Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions we are asked most often. If yours isn't here, contact us — we answer technical questions whether or not you buy from us.
Sizing and Fit
How do I know what size Kenter I need?
A Kenter is sized by the nominal diameter of the chain it joins — not by the dimensions of the shackle itself. If you don't know your chain size, measure one link and work backwards. For standard stud link chain:
- Link length = 6 × chain diameter
- Link width = 3.6 × chain diameter
So a link measuring 80mm long is 80 ÷ 6 = 13.3mm diameter — a 1/2" chain. A link 54mm wide is 54 ÷ 3.6 = 15mm, near enough 16mm (5/8"). Measure both and check they agree; if they don't, measure again before ordering.
If you're unsure, send us your measurements and photographs and we'll identify it for you.
My chain is imperial. Do you sell imperial Kenters?
Metric and imperial are the same ladder. 5/8" is 16mm, 1-1/2" is 38mm, 2" is 52mm. Every product on this site lists both. Kenters are manufactured in 2mm metric steps, and imperial-derived sizes land on odd millimetre values — 3/4" is 19mm, 2-5/8" is 67mm.
What if my chain is slightly worn or between sizes?
Kenters are manufactured to a ±2.5% sizing tolerance, which is why a metric Kenter fits equivalent imperial chain. A 34mm Kenter, for example, measures 33.1–34.8mm in practice. If your chain sits between two nominal sizes, tell us the measurement and we'll advise.
What sizes do you offer?
Our Kenter range runs from 1/2" (12.5mm) up to 3-1/2" (89mm), in both Lloyd's Register and ABS certification. If you need a size outside that range, contact us.
What is the smallest Kenter available?
1/2" (approximately 13mm). Neither ABS nor Lloyd's Register certifies Kenter shackles below that size.
Certification
Which certification do you supply?
We supply Kenters certified by Lloyd's Register (LR) and by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). Every unit is individually serialized and the serial number is covered by the certificate supplied with it. Other societies can be sourced to order — contact us with your requirement and quantity.
My specification calls for ABS. Can I use a Lloyd's certificate?
In most cases yes. For insurance and classification purposes, any major society certificate is normally accepted. LR, ABS, DNV and BV are all IACS members working to the same underlying standards — ABS is American, Lloyd's Register and DNV are European. If your contract names a specific society, check with your surveyor or class representative before ordering, and contact us if you need that society specifically.
Is the certificate specific to the shackle I receive?
Yes. Each Kenter is individually serialized and its serial number appears on the certificate. You are not receiving a generic type certificate.
The Product Itself
What brand of Kenter shackle is this?
There is no such thing as a Kenter shackle "brand". It is a universal design. All manufacturers produce to the same dimensional and material specifications, and any Kenter of a given size fits any chain of that size. What differentiates one from another is the certificate and the traceability behind it — which is what you are actually buying.
What grade are your Kenters?
Grade 3. Grade 3 is the working standard for anchor and mooring chain, and a Kenter should always match the grade of the chain it joins. Breaking loads for every size are published on the individual product pages and follow the IACS standard.
What is the finish, and will it survive saltwater?
Natural forged steel with a protective varnish, which is the standard finish for anchor and mooring service. Kenters are designed for saltwater use. Inspect for corrosion as part of your normal chain inspection routine.
Do you supply Kenters in other materials?
Our standard Kenters are forged steel to Grade 3, which is what classification societies certify. If you have a special material requirement, contact us and we'll tell you what is realistically available.
Is this for stud link or studless chain?
Our Kenters are for stud link anchor chain, which is the standard for anchoring and mooring. If you are working with studless chain, contact us before ordering.
What Else You Need
Is anything else required to install a Kenter?
Yes — two items, both sold separately:
- Lead plug — required to secure the taper pin once the Kenter is assembled. A Kenter is not safe to put into service without one.
- Drive pin punch — required only for disassembly, to drive the taper pin back out.
What size lead plug do I need, and how many come in a pack?
Lead plugs are supplied in packs of three. If you need 50 plugs, order 17 packs. One plug covers every Kenter size up to 3" (76mm) — for smaller Kenters, simply cut off the excess with a saw or pliers before hammering it flush.
If you need a plug for a large Kenter, or a specific plug dimension, contact us with your Kenter size and we'll confirm what fits and what we have available.
Which punch do I need?
The punch must suit the taper pin of your Kenter size. The punch listed on this site is sized for 5/8" Kenters — for any larger size, contact us with your Kenter diameter and we will quote the correct punch.
Can I buy a replacement taper pin?
Taper pins are replaceable if damaged or lost, but on Kenters below 1" the cost of a replacement pin approaches the cost of a new Kenter, so it is rarely worth doing. Contact us with your exact size for pricing.
Ordering, Stock and Delivery
Do you have my size in stock?
Stock varies by size and by certification. If your size isn't shown as available, contact us — we source Kenters regularly and can quote lead time for any size.
Is there a discount for quantity?
Yes. Prices shown are for single units. Contact us with your quantity and we'll revise the pricing.
What is the lead time?
In-stock items ship from our Montreal warehouse, often the same day if ordered early enough. For sizes we source to order, contact us and we'll confirm the current lead time before you commit.
Can you ship internationally?
Yes. We ship worldwide from Montreal, Canada, and regularly supply customers in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Caribbean. For urgent requirements, contact us directly — we can often ship the same day on in-stock items.
Who pays duties and taxes?
Goods ship from Canada. The buyer is responsible for any import duty, tariff or tax levied in the destination country. Tariff rates have been changing frequently, so we recommend confirming the current position with your customs broker before ordering.
What if I have trouble ordering on the site?
Contact us and we will process your order manually. This is common for international and large-quantity orders, and we are happy to do it — please don't abandon an order because the website is giving you difficulty.
Use and Safety
Can I use a Kenter shackle for lifting?
No. Kenter shackles are not approved for overhead lifting and are not intended to bear load in air. They are for joining anchor chain and for mooring service only. Using one as a lifting component is unsafe and outside its certification.
How do I install one?
Installation requires qualified personnel, a drift punch and a sledgehammer sized to the chain. In brief: disassemble the Kenter, insert the taper pin through the chain link and Kenter body, drive it fully home large end first, then secure it with a lead plug hammered flush so the pin cannot back out. Inspect before placing into service. Full instructions appear on each product page.
Can a used Kenter be re-certified?
No. A used Kenter should be replaced rather than re-certified. Kenters are a consumable part of a chain system.
How often should I inspect?
Inspect before each use and as part of your regular chain inspection. Look for deformation, cracking, corrosion and a missing or loose lead plug. Replace the Kenter if you find dimensional change or cracking.
Anchors
What size anchor do I need for my chain?
Anchor mass and chain diameter are both set by your vessel's equipment number in the IACS tables, so the two go together. As examples: 26mm chain pairs with an 855 kg high holding power bower anchor, 38mm with 1,845 kg, and 48mm with 2,835 kg. Our Anchor and Chain Sizing Guide gives the full table from 20.5mm to 48mm, along with the chain length specified for each size.
What is a high holding power (HHP) anchor?
High holding power is an approval category, not a brand or a shape. A classification society type-approves a design as HHP when it demonstrates approximately twice the holding of a standard stockless anchor of the same mass. Because of that, the equipment tables allow an HHP anchor to be roughly 25% lighter than the stockless anchor it replaces — for 38mm chain, 1,845 kg instead of 2,460 kg. Lighter anchor, same holding, less strain on the windlass and lower freight.
Is HHP the same as an AC-14?
No, though the terms are often used interchangeably. HHP is the approval category; AC-14 is one particular design within it — the most widely specified HHP stockless anchor, and the one most people mean when they say HHP. Other type-approved HHP designs include Spek, Pool N and Flipper Delta. There is also a higher category, super high holding power (SHHP), which includes designs such as Pool TW.
Which HHP design should I choose?
Unless your specification says otherwise, the AC-14 is the default and the one we normally quote. It is by far the most widely specified HHP stockless anchor, it holds very well in sand and mud, and it is what most merchant vessels are built to carry.
Other designs suit particular conditions. Flipper Delta and N-type anchors perform across a wider range of seabeds and are common on large vessels and offshore work. Where a specification calls for super high holding power, types such as Pool TW apply. Tell us your vessel, your chain size and where you anchor, and we will advise.
Do you supply anchors?
Yes. We quote the AC-14 as standard, in the mass matched to your chain size, certified to ABS or Lloyd's Register.
We are not tied to a single type, though. If your specification names something else — Spek, Pool N, Flipper Delta, or an SHHP design such as Pool TW — we will source it. As with Kenter shackles, what matters is the specification and the certificate, not a brand.
Send us your chain size, your vessel's equipment number, or simply the anchor type named in your specification, and we will quote it.
Still Have a Question?
We are happy to answer technical questions — sizing, certification, compatibility — whether or not you end up ordering from us. Send us your measurements, photographs or specification and we'll tell you what you need.
Dibblee Industries Ltd. / Les Industries Dibblee Ltée, Montreal, Quebec.