Wichard Eye Straps & Pad Eyes

Wichard Eye Straps & Pad Eyes: French-Forged Precision for Every Deck

When it comes to securing lines, blocks, lifelines, and towing points aboard a sailboat or powerboat, few names carry the weight that Wichard does. Founded in 1919 in Thiers, France, Wichard spent its early decades mastering the art of metal forging for industrial safety applications before turning its expertise toward the marine world in the 1970s — collaborating with legendary sailors like Bernard Moitessier to develop hardware that could handle the real demands of bluewater sailing. That century-plus of forging knowledge is evident in every eye strap and pad eye the brand produces.

What Sets Wichard Eye Straps & Pad Eyes Apart

Wichard's eye straps and pad eyes are manufactured from 316L marine-grade stainless steel, chosen specifically for its superior resistance to corrosion in saltwater environments. Every fitting is drop-forged — a process that aligns the grain structure of the metal for greater mechanical strength compared to cast alternatives. The result is hardware that delivers impressive working and breaking loads relative to its compact footprint on deck.

The lineup spans several distinct product families to match different rigging and deck scenarios:

• Saddle Eye Straps — Standard fixed eye straps available in wire diameters from 4 mm to 10 mm (part series #9202–#9205), sized to match a wide range of rope and wire runs along spars, booms, and hulls.
• Reefing Eye Straps — Compact, low-profile straps (e.g., part #9412, #9413) designed for the close spacing demands of reefing lines on a boom.
• Webbing Eye Straps — Specialty straps (part series #9211–#9222) engineered for use with webbing rather than wire, opening up applications in safety tethering and jackline attachment.
• Folding Pad Eyes — One of Wichard's signature solutions, these pad eyes fold flat when not under load, providing a flush deck surface that minimizes snag hazards and injury risk. Available in single and double configurations, in 6 mm, 8 mm, and 10 mm diameters, and even in titanium for weight-critical racing applications. Select packs are EN 795 certified for use as personal fall-arrest anchor points.
• Fixed & Diamond Pad Eyes — Round and diamond-shaped fixed pad eyes in multiple sizes, including high-load titanium soft padeyes rated from 3T to 10T for demanding rigging and safety applications.
• Stick-On Pad Eyes (SoftEye) — Adhesive-mount pad eyes and eye straps, including the SoftEye 40 and SoftEye 45, for installations where drilling is not possible or desirable.

Engineered for Safety, Built to Last

What distinguishes Wichard's approach is the consistent attention to load performance at all angles. Wichard folding pad eyes maintain their rated working and breaking loads regardless of the direction of pull — an essential characteristic for deck hardware that may see load vectors shift dramatically in heavy weather. This multi-directional strength, combined with a corrosion-resistant finish and the brand's long heritage in safety-critical forging, makes Wichard a go-to choice for offshore cruisers and racing sailors alike.

Whether you need a simple saddle eye strap to route a line along a spar, a reefing-specific strap for tight boom clearances, or a folding pad eye rated for safety harness attachment, Wichard's catalog covers the full spectrum. Explore the complete selection of Wichard eye straps and pad eyes to find the right fitting for your boat.