Rope clutches

[chef2sail]

Time to replace our 20 year old triple clutches on each side of the coach roof. Looking at these types so far. Leaning toward the Spinlock XTS. Also will look at Garhaer, Nautos, Antal and Lewmar. What kind are you using? Does it slip? Chew up the line? Ease of opening under load? Installation is it normal front release or opposite?

Hopefully find some deals at the boat how next month or will wait till 20% off from Defender during holiday or spring season.

Dave

[Efraim]

20yrs doesn't seem to be very old, however if you feel you have to, I have 20 yrs + old Garhauer clutches and they work as if new.

[chef2sail]

They are old thin levered Shaefer rope clutches and require loading up the line before releasing. They don't chew up the line, but they are a pain to use. The technology has advanced since the. Besides they are worn out

Dave

[sailorboy1]

my current ones don't slip and work fine, but if I ever replace I know I'm going to get the ones that have the lever facing forward so I can pul them to open instead of having to lift from the rear

[Cotemar]

Garhauer clutches last for ever and always look good.
They have no plastic to fade like the Spinlock XTS and Lewmar.
Anodized aluminum and SS.
Had six of them on my Catalina 380 and they always worked great.

Garhauer Marine Hardware -4984266

Marine Spinlock on Sale

Marine Lewmar on Sale

[Paul Elliott]

I've had Spinlock XTS on VALIS for over ten years and they've held up just fine. They don't slip (with the appropriately-sized line), and release easily under load. They don't chew up the lines either. I have learned that to keep them working smoothly you need to flush out the accumulated salt from time to time (once a year or so).

[Charlie]

I have Spinlock and Garhauer on mine. Between the two I would go for price which usually means Garhauer.

BTW Paul nice article in Lat 38 on Pac Cup.

[Weyalan]

Garhauer are good value for money, robust and reliable, but they are relatively hard on the ropes. You have to get into the discipline of putting some turns on a winch and taking the load of the clutch prior to opening, otherwise they can chew through your halyard cover.

[4arch]

Don't have anything as new fangled as rope clutches on Spindrift but on the boat I race on there are Spinlocks and I have not been impressed. The main halyard tends to eventually slip when under very high load and it's very hard to pull lines through them when they're locked down - which is supposed to be one of the advantages of a clutch. On the Caliber 40 I did the C1500 on there were Lewmars which didn't seem to have either issue but I know they are very expensive.

[barnakiel]

We have very old Easylocks. Very good stuff. No issues.

b.

[sck5]

I have a spinlock triple clutch which is the best. never a problem and always nice to my halyards. Sets and releases easily.

[chef2sail]

Don which ones do you have. I am trying to also avoid lifting them from the rear.

Dave

[Jim Cate]

FWIW,

We have both Spinlock and Lewmar clutches on Insatiable II. In short, the Spinlocks do NOT release under big loads, the Lewmars DO (we use them on the runners... heavily loaded, and released thus for each tack or gybe.)

For me, the choice, if release under load is partof the picture, is simple: Lewmars.

Cheers,

Jim

[Paul Elliott]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

FWIW,

We have both Spinlock and Lewmar clutches on Insatiable II. In short, the Spinlocks do NOT release under big loads, the Lewmars DO (we use them on the runners... heavily loaded, and released thus for each tack or gybe.)

For me, the choice, if release under load is partof the picture, is simple: Lewmars.

Cheers,

Jim

Jim, my experience with the Spinlock XTS is completely different -- they release fine under a big load. I can't explain the difference, but there you have it.

[chef2sail]

Looked at the Lewmar today. Lever is lactic so I eliminated them.

Dave