Any opinions on rope clutches?

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I need to upgrade two double clutches and I'm wondering if there are any opinions as to which brand is good or bad? I'm looking at the Lewmar D1's and D2's as well as the Spinlock XTS's. I know they're bloomin expensive but would welcome any opinions. I have read some negativity on Sailing Anarchy about the D1's.

TIA

Rob
 
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Also interested. I am going to replace a double with a triple. It looks like a choice between the Barton and the Spinlock XAS - anyone got any opinions?

- W
 
Robih said:
I need to upgrade two double clutches and I'm wondering if there are any opinions as to which brand is good or bad? I'm looking at the Lewmar D1's and D2's as well as the Spinlock XTS's. I know they're bloomin expensive but would welcome any opinions. I have read some negativity on Sailing Anarchy about the D1's.

TIA

Rob
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We have xts's. Do what they say on the tin. Have never slipped, easy to fit. No complaints at all..
 
Agree with above, Spinlock every time; the only very slight snag with clutches being one has to have the line free to pay out when released, but the XAS's do their job very well.
 
Robih said:
I need to upgrade two double clutches and I'm wondering if there are any opinions as to which brand is good or bad? I'm looking at the Lewmar D1's and D2's as well as the Spinlock XTS's. I know they're bloomin expensive but would welcome any opinions. I have read some negativity on Sailing Anarchy about the D1's.

TIA

Rob
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For cruising needs you can't go wrong.

However we're going through a set of teeth per year on the Main and Jib Halyards. They just wear smooth and then won't hold the required tensions.
 
We inherited ageing Spinlock XA's more than 10 years old and past it.
But we were also delighted to be able to buy the necessary bits, handles, springs, plates to renovate. This saved a considerable amount since the carcass was still fine.

Also filled a storm bound day in port with something practical to do.
 
webcraft said:
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Also interested. I am going to replace a double with a triple. It looks like a choice between the Barton and the Spinlock XAS - anyone got any opinions?

- W
Click to expand...

I have some Barton jammers. they are heavy and engineered like a steam truck. They were inexpensive, the jaws tend to stick open (I should maintain them better I guess) and they look a bit naff. I suspect they will carry on doing a not quite perfect job, well, maybe for ever.
 
I have Lewmar D2 clutches. They work extremely well and hold the 10mm lines from my daggerboard and mainsheet on my Catana 40 ..... i.e. they are heavily used and highly loaded. They also release the loaded line easily when required to.

Compared to the standard cam clutches they offer much less wear to the rope and also hold high-tech dynema lines well. I have found in the past that the standard cams cannot hold the centre braid effectively through the outer braid on a double braid rope, causing the outer braid to fail ...... very expensive and could be dangerous. On the downside each clutch is limited in the sizes of rope it can be used for .... unless you change the jaws.

I have limited experience of the Spinlock XTS or XX units and therefore have no reliable comments to make other than they worked well when I used them.
 
hairbox said:
How about Rutgerson RC750 HPX ?
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Interesting idea as it seems this clutch allows an endless line to be fitted without the necessity of cutting and resplicing. But I can't find out who the UK agent is? The Rutgerson website refers to MarinCo up in Scotland which has a non-functioning website. There's talk of Martin Leaning at Port Solent being an agent but his website is silent on the subject. Does anybody know who the agent is?

rob
 
Another vote for the Lewmar clutches. Replaced older spinlock XA's which were working fine, but were too small for my boat.

Since fitting them about 6 years ago, I have been pleasantly surprised how little damage there is to my ropes compared to other jaw designs.

Keep an eye on ebay - often see Lewmar clutches for sale there at good prices - that was how I bought mine.
 
I was pleased to find recently that an at leat 20yr old spinlock has the same footprint ie deck holes as the latest verions. Now that is good.
 
doug748 said:
I have some Barton jammers. they are heavy and engineered like a steam truck. They were inexpensive, the jaws tend to stick open (I should maintain them better I guess) and they look a bit naff. I suspect they will carry on doing a not quite perfect job, well, maybe for ever.
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Barton replaced the old design with a completely new product a couple of years ago. No idea how good they are. However when I looked the price was similar to the other manufacturers.

I have two triples of the old design. They tend to wear since the body is plastic. When I returned one for service they replaced it which a new one at half price. Tempted to try the same trick again...
 
Robih said:
I need to upgrade two double clutches and I'm wondering if there are any opinions as to which brand is good or bad? I'm looking at the Lewmar D1's and D2's as well as the Spinlock XTS's. I know they're bloomin expensive but would welcome any opinions. I have read some negativity on Sailing Anarchy about the D1's.
Click to expand...

I'm sure I have read a comparative review of rope clutches in a mag over the last few months. That means either a recent PBO, a recent ST or one of the old STs I keep borrowing from the clubhouse to find out exactly what Colin Jarman fitted to Jumblie when he used her for gear tests ...
 
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