It just needs to be wound on carefully
@Fidei Defensor. If one is not prepared to guide the last section of line it would be better to stop at the marked location.
I was concerned about the performance under load, a major reason to install the winch shackle (which ensures both the winch line eye and the soft shackle are kept at the desired diameter).
If you zoom in you might spot that I have a spool around the shank of the winch shackle, which has a similar effect as a fixed eye.
If you compare it to
@grenadierboy ’s example (maybe is without a spool?) you can picture the effect just having a bare shank.
I don’t anticipate any issue with NOT using a spool, but our use case anticipates operating a long way from replacement components (and medical assistance), so our setup is designed to maximise the longevity of shackles/line and the safety of winching operations. Normal users can rather easily just pick up new soft shackles when the ones they use show wear/are damaged.
If one isn’t planning to use a shackle in this way it may be worth sleeving the exposed section of winch line, simply to protect it from the elements etc.
T Synthetic Dyneema Winch Rope Sleeve Sox By The Meter. A protective winch rope sleeve will protect your winch rope from abrasion and. . . .
www.4x4offroadclinic.com.au