Clutch size for main halyard

aluijten

aluijten

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I'm wondering what size clutch I should use for my main halyard. I'm looking at the D1 series of Lewmar. Lewmar themselves recommend the D2 size, but the ones that are now on the mast are Rutgersons at similar size as the Lewmar D1. As the mounting holes are the same as well I'd like to stick to this size (don't fancy drilling extra holes in the mast).

The boat is about 11 meters long with a mast of about 17,5 meters above the waterline. It's a AWB cruiser.

Any advice out there?

Thanks in advance.
 
Surely it will depend on the halliard diameter. I have a Spinlock on my main halliard with a 12mm Diameter rope. Works fine - I do prefer Lewmar clutches but got the Spinlock at a too good to miss price!
 
Halyard is 10 mm Dyneema. I've replaced one of the clutches with a Spinlock to see how I like them, but the handle of the clutch managed to pinch through my sail the other day when I was hoisting the sail (the sail got caught at the handle). This is why I'm looking at the Lewmar series as the handle opens the other way, not putting my sail at risk.
Also the Spinocks open very hard at load is my experience.
 
It sounds as though you tried a Spinlock XAS clutch. Although that will take rope upto 12 mm it is underspecified for a boat your size. It may hold the line but as you say they can be very hard to release under high tension and will chew up your expensive dyneema halyard. From the Spinlock range you need a XTS clutch and from Lewmar the D2. Neither of the base models are up to the job so I am afraid you will need to drill another hole in the mast or lead the halyard back to the cockpit.

My boat with a 33 sq m mainsail came fitted with Spinlock XAS clutches. I ditched them and replaced them with XTS ones for all the halyards.
 
As PeterR has said,

Because you are using dynema hailyards the small clutch is inadequate to hold the strain.

Those small cleats were designed before dynema was available at realistic prices.
They were really made for braid on braid and halyards were of a bigger diameter thus a larger cleat was normally employed.

With the switch to the smaller diameter dynema with the same strength as the larger braid on braid one still must use a larger cleat which should be fitted with the jaw mechanism for the smaller rope otherwise the rope will slip.

An alternative way which might reduce the problem would be to fit a couple of small T cleats after the existing cleats as a belt and braces solution.

Iain
 
charles_reed said:
You need to use a multi-ring as opposed to a jamming clutch - my 10mm Dyneema halyard has worked perfectly for 11 years with the Lewmar D2.
You need to buy one with your rope-size at the lower limit - you'll find out why when you try to thread it.
Click to expand...

I agree , the Lewmar clutch seems much more 'clever' in the way it holds the rope. I have a few on my current boat and I had all of them on my previous boat.
The thing I was wondering about is if the D2 size really needed. On the mast I would prefer the smaller ones (D1) because of existing holes and also the sailcover that is already a tight fit at present.

Thanks for all the reactions so far!
 
Have you considered Easylock clutches, which must be more readily available in Holland (and cheaper?).

My boat's airdraft is about 16.5. Mainsail is 13.2 hoist x 4.75 foot with 10mm Dyneema halyard and the boat was built with Easylock Midi clutches throughout. Never had a problem with slippage.
 
rudolph_hart said:
Have you considered Easylock clutches, which must be more readily available in Holland (and cheaper?).
Click to expand...

On my previous boat I had some old models of Easy (approx. 1992). They were worn out completely. At the time of replacement I thought the mechanism in this clutch was not very clever (prone to wear). This is why I replaced them with the Lewmar model D1.

So the question would be, is the mechanism inside the Easylock improved since? The price is almost the same by the way.

Cheers
 
aluijten said:
On my previous boat I had some old models of Easy (approx. 1992). They were worn out completely. At the time of replacement I thought the mechanism in this clutch was not very clever (prone to wear). This is why I replaced them with the Lewmar model D1.

So the question would be, is the mechanism inside the Easylock improved since? The price is almost the same by the way.

Cheers
Click to expand...

I don't know if the mechanism has changed recently, but mine are all 1995, and even the most heavily-used clutch - on the mainsheet, which I 'surge' through the clutch to dump the main in gusts - isn't worn out.... yet:)
 
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