rope clutches

[americanfrog]

the rope clutches on my hunter are showing their age. they are garhauer for 5 lines. Any advice on whether i should have them rebuilt or should i replace them. I know how to do the latter, not sure where to do for the former? any advice/experience?

thanks
Frederick
Pardon My French
Seattle WA

[overbored]

you can't get them rebuilt for the price of new Garhauer clutches a 5 rope model is $230
Call them and see if they will rebuild. but if I was them I would say yes we rebuild them it is $230 for a 5 rope model.
Garhauer is less then $50 per line any other make is $100 per line. For cruising go Garhauer

[SchockT]

By all accounts the Garhauer are a pretty solid choice.

I opted for the Spinlock XTS to replace my old Schaeffer jammers. They are one of the best holding clutches you can get, and they look good too! I am not crazy about all the hard edges on the garhauers, they just look a bit painful and "industrial"! I have heard the G's eat high tech ropes, but don't know if it is true. An XTS triple will cost you around $100 more than the Garhauer triple.

[americanfrog]

thanks all - I like the spinlock design a lot better and would go that route, but i want to use the originally fittings, as it is pretty hard to get to a backplate with the way the deck is laid out on my boat. Thanks for the tip on replacement also, at this cost makes sense to get new ones, rather than rebuild.

thanks
Frederick
Pardon My French
Seattle

[Frogwatch]

How complex can a rope clutch be? I have a cheaper set on my old S2, forget the brand (Staylok I think) but all you do is buy a new cam. Cost is minimal.

[SchockT]

Originally Posted by americanfrog

thanks all - I like the spinlock design a lot better and would go that route, but i want to use the originally fittings, as it is pretty hard to get to a backplate with the way the deck is laid out on my boat. Thanks for the tip on replacement also, at this cost makes sense to get new ones, rather than rebuild.

thanks
Frederick
Pardon My French
Seattle

You don't need a backing plate for a set of clutches. All the load is parallel to the deck. Fender washers are all you need. The only down side is filling the old bolt holes. Hopefully the footprint of the new covers the old! For that reason I can understand replacing like for like.

[Faster]

There may be some adjustability on the clutches (not directly familiar with Gerhaurs) but others do allow some cam clearance adjustment...

Also.. are you sure it's the clutches and not your line that's getting worn?

[blt2ski]

Some clutches for very little you can get a cam replacement kit. I can get that for me Spinlocks.

I would also recomend if you go new, to make sure your new main and jib halyards clutches are plenty strong. If I had to do it again, I would go a size larger for the halyards, keep the smaller size for the reef, cunningham, vang, boom lifts etc.

marty

[americanfrog]

Originally Posted by Faster

There may be some adjustability on the clutches (not directly familiar with Gerhaurs) but others do allow some cam clearance adjustment...

Also.. are you sure it's the clutches and not your line that's getting worn?

Good question but the clutches are the culprit; all the lines, sheets and other halyards are new.

[americanfrog]

Originally Posted by blt2ski

Some clutches for very little you can get a cam replacement kit. I can get that for me Spinlocks.

I would also recomend if you go new, to make sure your new main and jib halyards clutches are plenty strong. If I had to do it again, I would go a size larger for the halyards, keep the smaller size for the reef, cunningham, vang, boom lifts etc.

marty

agree with you Marty, i've already upgrade all the running rigging since i bought the boat. it is still w/in specs of the clutches tho.