Prop rope cutter advice

[Guest]

I'm just completing a 2 year refit of a 37' sailing cruiser and am thinking of fitting a prop shaft rope cutter. I don't think that I can afford the 'Spurs' type (scissor type) and am considering PropProtector. A chandler told me that there was a danger of the rotary knife type such as PropProtector winding uncut rope up between the cutter and the P bracket and damaging the gearbox by pulling the shaft out - any experiences or advice? Does this type of cutter work?

 

[Miker]

I changed from a PropProtector to an Ambassador on reading the review in Sailing(?). I took the view that it was worth the extra money for more peace of mind. My only experience with the PropProtector was that it did not deal very effectively with plastic bags etc, the main problem in my marina. No problem since fitting the Ambassador, but that might be down to good fortune. Also the PropProtector got quite blunt after a couple of seasons.
I now have a blunt used PropProtector hiding somewhere in my garage.

 

[pvb]

Stripper...

From a mechanical point of view, I think the Stripper has a better chance of working than the Spurs, and that both are infinitely better than the rotating knife type. I fitted a Stripper several years ago, and I've only once been aware of it working, when engaging reverse in Ramsgate Marina one day and hearing a funny "chirping" noise. Then I saw a lot of little pieces of that tough plastic industrial strapping tape floating around the boat. So I'll vouch for the Stripper!

 

[Guest]

spurs

I think most of the independent tests show spurs and stripper to be equally effective. Certainly both devices are in a different league to the plain rotating cutters.
I fitted spurs about ten years ago - I was convinced that they were better engineered than the stripper. In Brittany some sort of weed/rope cutter is essential. My cutter has dealt with both these hazards in an effective and impressive manner.
You will need to change the bearing every couple of years, but that is a simple procedure.

 

[Guest]

I had a 'stripper' already on the boat when bought .... later when havung shaft work done - the stripper was found to have worn out its 'nylon / white' spacer and the cutter badly 'gouged-out' reducing its efficiency seriously. But it still worked !
The engineer advised removal - I agreed as it had a lot of free=play and would only damage the shaft if left - plus the noise !!!

This year having 'baulked' at the price of the replacement, I picked up a section of heavy netting which made steering and motoring my boat very difficult .... on drying out at Newport Quay .... I removed the offending netting. If I had left the old stripper - I am sure that this would have dealt with it very well. I shall be fitting another soon !!!!

By the way .. the netting was picked up in mid-channel opposite the Folly Inn, IoW .... so you don't have to out at sea to get caught !!!!

 

[Guest]

stripper

Similar to my experience, Nigel.
But perhaps the yorkshire blood makes me look closer before shelling out brass for replacements. My elderly rope cutter was re-furbished and with a new nylon bearing it is ready to chomp through much of the submergerged trash floating around in the Solent.

 

[Guest]

Re: stripper

I wanted to 'grind-off' the indented worn part and make the face flush again ... so that both cutters mated well, but the engineer advised that it would not work ... second he threw away part of the stripper ... much to my disgust !!

Anyway the stripper was excellent till then ! If someone has a worn out one that I can refurbish as I wanted to in the first place - then I can save some brass !!!!

 

[philip_stevens]

Re: stripper

Nigel,
Contact Ambassador Marine direct, and find out if they can supply you with some spare parts. They helped me out once with replacement parts.

regards,
Philip

 

[webcraft]

A friend fitted a knife-type cutter last year before taking his boat out to Tenerife.

Going into Eastbourne for diesel they picked up a pot buoy which wrapped itself round the shaft and pulled the P-bracket out of the hull. They were towed in with water pouring into the boat and suffered an 8-day £1000 delay while the damage was repaired.

Personally I think the rotating blade cutters are a waste of money - you need a Spurs or Stripper type.

- Nick

BlueMoment.Com
http://www.bluemoment.com

 

[AndrewB]

I'd also support the popular view that the scissors types are superior to a circular blade. I've had a Spurs for 8 years now and it has done us a good job - but it's remarkably expensive for what it is.

 

[Guest]

Re: stripper

I wnet on the web-site and looked at prices back ewhen it all happened and I was frightened off !!!!

At moment things can hang for a while as I'm out of country so not so urgent ..... will sort it out when I get back.

But I certainly agree with most that the 'two' part cutter approach is better than a spinning disc cutter .... OK ifa single rope etc., but if its a net or bag then I cannot see the disc cutting it away sufficiently like spurs / stripper.

 

[pvb]

Ah, the curse of Sovereign Harbour!!

Sovereign Harbour at Eastbourne is home to a number of so-called "fishermen", at least one of whom lays strings of pots right outside the entrance marker buoy and who also, amazingly, uses floating line! When I picked up the floating line in my rudder and asked Sovereign for assistance, they said they couldn't send their workboat out to me because their insurance only covered them as far as the end of the entrance channel, and I was 100yds or so past it! When I subsequently suggested to the marina manager that he shouldn't let people lay pots right at the end of the entrance channel, he said he couldn't stop them.

 

[dickh]

I fitted a Stripper 2 years ago as I managed to pick a never fitted one from an advert on a website for about 1/3rd the new cost - otherwise I would never had bought one but I couldn't resist it. Don't know wether its been effective as I don't think I've picked up any lines since. It is certainly well engineered and easy to fit, but don,t forget you need space between the P bracket and the back of the prop boss so you might need to pull the prop shaft further out of the engine coupling or even a new shaft.


dickh
I'd rather be sailing...

 

[philip_stevens]

Ambassador Marine can supply a coupling spacer for cases where the prop is too close to the P bracket or bearing.

regards,
Philip