Lewmar or Spinlock clutches?

CapnRon47 · #1 03-22-2012

I am moving my main halyard and reefing lines back to the cockpit. I need to add 3 rope clutches. Two on one side one on the other. The selection is Lewmar or Spinlock. Any comments of one vs the other?

thanks,
Ron

zz4gta · #2 03-22-2012

What boat?

The lewmar domino clutches work and they don't chew up the line. Some people have trouble with them slipping in high load applications. They are easy to "ease" the line though. Even under the highest loads. I think they're a better design, just need to use a grippy line on the larger size that still fits the clutch.

The spinlock (what model?) have a rep for chewing up line, but lock down very tight but are hard to release under load. Some people actually have to load up the line on a winch before opening the clutch. They also slip, but that usually means you need to change out the cam in them.

CapnRon47 · #3 03-22-2012

Thanks,
I knew I forgot something!

It is a 35' sloop (Holby Marine Clearwater model 1990). Currently the main halyard and reefing clutches and winch are at the mast. I single hand a lot and the jack lines and harness are getting old (figuratively not really), I am just getting older but I still use them. I can bring the main halyard back on the starboard side where I have a winch for raising the keel (it is a swing keel boat). There is one clutch there already for the keel line (it is an old Lewmar, there is about 700 lbs force on that line, the keel is 4,000 lbs of lead and has a 7:1 reduction). I intend to replace that clutch that with a double I will bring the reefing lines (2) back on the port side. I am rigging up a form of jiffy reefing with one line for each reef point. The mainsheet comes back there and there is a winch for it, naturally, but no clutch. I am thinking of making it a triple, so I can lock off the main when I reef. That may not be necessary as you luff the main when you reef anyway, but I think it would look cleaner and I would feel more comfortable using the winch for the reef lines if the main could not run out, currently there is only a fairlead for the mainsheet there, it locks in the self tailing winch. The boat is currenlty in the yard, I am guessing all these lines are 7/16 or 1/2".

trantor12020 · #4 03-22-2012

Since you're putting in new clutches (3 on one side and one on the other) why not put in 2 or 3 for the other side as well? I've 3 + 3 and at times wish I had 4 on each. Whenever I fly spin, I remove my 2nd Reef line and slot in the Spin tack for better control.

CapnRon47 · #5 03-22-2012

Ken,

Certainly something to think about. I will likely replace the old Lewmar, so I was planning on putting in 3x and 2x at least. I don't have a lot of room on the cabin top to lead lines back to those clutches. I have ports on the cabin top.

thanks tho,
ron

arf145 · #6 03-22-2012

Seems like I've read that the newer Spinlocks are easier to ease than they used to be. Highly rated in Practical Sailor. I think the Lewmar D2 got decent marks too. I've installed Lewmar D1s a few years ago. They are easy to ease and lock well, but do slip a little when I'm trying to get the main up that last inch.

blt2ski · #7 03-23-2012

I have Spinlock XAS clutchs. Smaller ones. For the main and jib, I wish I would have gone to the next size up, as it holds more. OR, as I saw on a boat I crewed on the other day, they took a climbing ratchet and put it on the main halyard to hold the line when the clutch would not on the back side.

Otherwise, I have no issues with the Spinlocks I have. I have about 8 per side!

Marty

CapnRon47 · #8 03-24-2012

Thanks all, I think I will go with the Spinlocks, the XTS size. They take a broader range of line and they open the same way my older Lewmar do on the boat, with the handle moving to the rear of the unit to open. My older Lewmars were actually made by Spinlock back in the late 80's.

Ron