rope cutters

[Micky]

Can they be fitted to any boat with prop and shaft?? Anyone know how much they cost, are they worth fitting.

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[jimage]

I think they can be fitted to most shafts. May have to fit a packer between gearbox and shaft to create some room between P bracket and prop. Contact Ambassador Marine (01962 775405). They are the ones who advertise in most monthlies - the mermaid with great tits! Mine set me back about £250.00 - 1.5" shafts, 3 blade prop. Are they worth it? We ran over a dreaded lobby pot with a wire attached to the buoy. managed to get it round both prop as we later found out. It nearly stalled a 150hp Cummins at full revs, but the cutter cut the wire, and we lived to tell the tail. If we hadn`t had them fitted, it would have been a lifeboat job!!

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[Bandit]

I have had rope cutters on three boats now all "Spurs" and you know when they cut something they make a hell of a noise.

They have certainly cut a few pot ropes .

Last year half way between Guernsey and Brittany i picked up a Tarpaulin 20ft by 20ft made of that cheap hessian type plastic which stopped both engines. I eventualy got one prop to clear itself and we proceded on one engine otherwise it would have been a lifeboat or tow job. A diver took one hour to clear tarpaulin in the harbour, bent props and shaft.

I would not have a boat without them, they are expensive but are wort the peace of mind. The do slow you down on planing boats by 1/2 to 1 knot.

There is so much crap floating around these days I will not travel in a mobo in the dark , so take care.

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[zazu]

What do you do with outdrives though? We picked up ropes/fishing nets off Hengistbury and Brittany this year despite maintaining constant lookout. Fortunately each time only one engine affected and limped into port on other. Problem aggravated with duoprops pulling material into the gap between props.

At least I was not alone. Agree with you on night sailing although we would always sail at night on a yacht to make best use of time. Since converting to motor there is no need to go at night as you can cover so much gound in a short period.

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[miket]

I thought this was one of the few advantages of outdrives?!!
Can't you just press a button and lift the drives so you don't even have to get wet!!

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[Alistairr]

That depends how far under your drive is!!! I have 4' of boat and bathing platform before i can get to the drive. You can't get to it without getting in the water and going under the platform. Hey you can't even see it, wether its up or down.




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[jfm]

Micky, you might want to do a search as there have been other threads. I would always have them becuase, at least in some circumstances, they work. They aren't cheap, can be £1000+ per shaft fitted, though depends on size etc.

There are many tales about impact on boat speed. Kim H posted that the speed impact can be different boat to boat. We had a new boat March this year, tried it without cutters, then lifted out and fitted cutters ("Strippers"). After relaunch -with same fuel, same ambient temperature- there was absolutely zero loss of speed (even at high speeds -34knots- which is when any speed loss would be most noticeable)

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[miket]

Hell's teeth. And I was close to conversion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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