Clutches

[labatt]

This will probably be the first of a series of "what should I replace it with" messages having just sailed for the first two times on our new-to-us Passport 40.

It turns out a couple of the clutches are broken. They are really old Schaefer's, and the ones that do work are chewing up the lines pretty badly. Practical Sailor did a review sometime in the past year of clutches and I can't seem to find my issue. Does anyone recall who they recommended and why? I'm thinking Spinlock XTS's for the replacement.

We have 3 clutches on each side and have also found that we need more. We had to swap a couple of lines around (pull one out to put another one in) when we were practicing reefing, so I'm thinking of going to 5 clutches on each side (which means replacing the deck organizers too). Any thoughts on this?

Thanks!

Chris

[Giulietta]

I am not biased at all

LEWMAR...

Harken, Schaeffer, Garhauer, spinlock none will perform as good and still preserve the rope..NONE....by experience

I don't care what everyone else here will say LEWMAR it is...

Have had all previous makes...now only LEWMAR mine are D2's click here... They come in Single, Double and Triple, I have 1 double and 1 triple on each side.

THE BEST believe me, my ropes are all Dyneema..wouldn't want anything bitting them



The Harken I had before, looked good, but chewed the ropes, Spinlock broke, and garhaure no spares in Europe, too flimsy.

[soul searcher]

I'll second that, the lewmars don't use teeth to gab the line its done with friction on smooth surfaces.
The other benefit is when you let them off you can do so slowly and surge line out in a controled manner.

Matt

[sailingdog]

I would third Lewmar. Two problems with the Spinlock clutches... they are often difficult to release under high tension, and they tend to tear up the line. I have lewmars on my boat, with the exception of the boom brake line, which uses a small Spinlock.

BTW, the Lewmar was the one that PS said was the best overall for general use for their line gripping and the fact that they can be eased under almost any load. PS also found that the Lewmars are very line-friendly and caused the least line wear.

[Giulietta]

Ahhhhh...feels good to be right...unfortunately PS (Playstation???ehehehe) does not get to us...so no publications...we get real life evaluations here..ehehehe

[PBzeer]

Having a Lewmar and a Schaffer on my boat (as purchased) I too would go with the Lewmar.

You might want to take some pictures of your line arrangement, if you're going to be asking more questions about it. Be much easier to look, than to read.

[Giulietta]

1........2........3 BANG

"SOLD TO THE GENTLEMAN IN THE PASSPORT 40....A SET OF NEW LEWMAR CLUTCHES"


Next item....winches.........

[labatt]

Lewmar it is! I'll be doing the 3/2 thing just like Giu... hopefully I have a good backing plate already in place otherwise this could get pricey to retrofit

[Freesail99]

Speaking of backing plates, wood or metal ?

[Giulietta]

Originally Posted by Freesail99

Speaking of backing plates, wood or metal ?

The high load areas on my boat are done with high density wood (replacing the core sandwich) where the load devices go, and a metal plate backing up from behind, to spread load over a larger area...