Rope Cutters

[gcwhite]

Whats the view on rope cutters. On my previous boat I had them but I am not aware that they ever had to perform in anger. They do, of course, reduced speed and increase fuel consumption.

On my new boat the manufacturer did not recommend them and talking to other manufacturers the views were similar. Their arguement was that at high speed rope cutters will not be able to cope with a net which avalanches the props and a single rope would be swept aside. At low speed ie off the plane the situation might be different.

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[mainshiptom]

I have never had rope cutters, Only once have I cagught a rope ! (twin engines, only one was caught ) But by the time I dived down to look for it, It was gone the prop with shaft manged to cut it away,



Tom

 

[jfm]

We always have them. You dont know, necessarily, if they're working. The speed/fuel burn thing is overstated imho. Will vary from boat to boat no doubt, but on many boats they do not reduce speed or increase fuel burn. On ours they dont, becuase I compared before/after having them fitted, I made a post a while ago about this

 

[TigaWave]

If you're looking at rope cutters you should have a look at the new rope and wire cutter that has been developed in Perth. Manufactured by a company called Quickwater marine, and called the QuicKutter.

This cutter does not interupt the flow of water as it has no rotating blades, and hence no bearings. There are testimonials from an Australian boat builder of high speed craft saying that these cutters do not effect performance or cause cavitation. But they have cut 3" rope and 5mm ss wire.
The RNLI are trialling them on their new offshore boat, and they have been fitted to a range of motor boats in the UK.
http://www.quickwater.com.au/
http://www.quickutter.com/