Rope cutters

[Guest]

Some chandlers are starting selling rope cutters in Italy too. Obviously a nice to have, mainly when getting back at night, but:
do they really work (particularly for nets)?
which brands are considered the best, how long do they last and which kind of maintenance is needed?
To which extent do they affect performances?
Any other negative, difficult to foresee, consequences?

My boat is an American fisherman, 35', planing, cruising speed 24 knts, flat out 30 knts, twin diesels 350 hp each.

Thanks everybody,

Aldo

 

[Guest]

I've tried 3 types of rope cutter and would not go to sea without them.
Spurs were disappointing the bearings seem to wear very quickly and I bent one set on something halfway across Lyme bay, although better a bent rope cutter than a net round the prop. Ambassador seemed to be stronger and on 2 boats I have had no trouble, its only when they are not working that you think of them, if they are doing their job you could be going over ropes all day and you probably would not know. On my new boat I have gone for the blade type somewhat cheaper than the others and less moving parts to cause problems but cannot report on success or failure as we have not yet gone to sea.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Aldo, there was another thread on this subject a few weeks ago. My experience and most others is that you will lose some speed from your boat, 2.5knots in my case, so I have removed them from my boat. I am tempting fate here but the likelihood of both props being disabled is extremely unlikely so I question the worth of rope cutters on a pleasure boat although for a commercial boat, they might make sense. Some people say they can make a rope tangle worse if the rope is not immediately cut.
I dont think they're worth having