Rope cutters

[KREW2]

How important is it to have the dampening lugs on the V bit.
I bought a new blade and bearings a couple of years back, but after I launched it clattered a bit, so out she came for a look.

I noticed that the dampening lugs had fallen out, so it was removed, and has never been put back.
I have since looked at other boats in the yard and noticed that they too had one or both of the lugs missing so I was wondering whether to put it back on and not worry about them.

 

[GrahamM376]

How important is it to have the dampening lugs on the V bit.
I bought a new blade and bearings a couple of years back, but after I launched it clattered a bit, so out she came for a look.

I noticed that the dampening lugs had fallen out, so it was removed, and has never been put back.
I have since looked at other boats in the yard and noticed that they too had one or both of the lugs missing so I was wondering whether to put it back on and not worry about them.

Mine has been like that for years. I understand Stripper has a modification (with springs?) so no longer needs the buffers.

 

[KREW2]

Mine has been like that for years. I understand Stripper has a modification (with springs?) so no longer needs the buffers.

I will give Harold Hayles a ring about the modification.
Does yours clatter?

 

[GrahamM376]

I will give Harold Hayles a ring about the modification.
Does yours clatter?

Different cutter, mine is a Stripper, yours must be a Spurs but the fixing is the same. No it didn't clatter but replaced with a Prop Protector now.

 

[philip_stevens]

but replaced with a Prop Protector now.

A bit of a backward step, as both Stripper and Spurs were tested as the best two rope cutters, a few years back with PBO. PropProtector came out low on the list.

The RNLI used to use Spurs, but I believe now use the Stripper. Both are equally as good - as I can attest at picking up floating trawling ropes a while ago, and getting chopped off.

 

[GrahamM376]

A bit of a backward step, as both Stripper and Spurs were tested as the best two rope cutters, a few years back with PBO. PropProtector came out low on the list.

The RNLI used to use Spurs, but I believe now use the Stripper. Both are equally as good - as I can attest at picking up floating trawling ropes a while ago, and getting chopped off.

I've has Spurs and Stripper on different boats for 20 years and don't know if they've ever worked but do know of 3 occasions where they didn't.

I've changed from fixed 2 blade to 3 blade Featherstream, since when cutless bearings are only lasting 2 years. A new 3 blade cutter alone for the Stripper is around £250 + a service kit (a complete new one is £500) Prop Protector £118 and I've been able to shorten the shaft and move the prop forward by 25mm.

 

[Neil_Y]

Some facts needed here I think.
The RNLI use the quicKutter and have done since 2004. They removed Spurs cutters. Scissor cutters were also removed from Trent and Severn classes for QuicKutters, and now the Canadian Coast guard have also chosen QuicKutters.

The QuicKutter was not tested in the PBO test. The test did not demonstrate what happens when rope is caught by the prop and winding around the shaft with the fixed end on the prop.

A bit of a backward step, as both Stripper and Spurs were tested as the best two rope cutters, a few years back with PBO. PropProtector came out low on the list.


The RNLI used to use Spurs, but I believe now use the Stripper