Halyard mast clutch question

[RitSim]

I have a '99 Beneteau 411 with roller furling genoa and main. Both Halyards are Samson MLX3, 10mm. My mast has locations for rope clutches that were removed by the previous owner. The clutches would allow easier adjustment of the halyards using the cockpit winches and I would like to replace them. Current method is to use the two eared cleats on the mast. I don't often adjust the halyards.

Somewhere I read that long-term use of a rope clutch in the same rope location damages the rope core- just don't remember where I saw it.

Comments?

I

 

[dlochner]

Somewhere I read that long-term use of a rope clutch in the same rope location damages the rope core- just don't remember where I saw it.

Really depends on the type of clutch. Way back in the day, pre 1990 some clutches were pretty aggressive with metal teeth. These did cause problems. Since then clutch design has improved considerably. I just replaced the Lewmar clutches on my boat because they wore out before the halyard did.

Spinlock and Lewmar both make line friendly clutches.

Clutches on the mast with halyards led to the cockpit would not be an improvement. While line can be tensioned with the clutch engaged, trying to hoist a sail with clutches engaged would be really difficult.

How often do you adjust the tension on the roller furling halyards? Releasing the tension still requires a trip to the mast.

 

[RitSim]

All good points. I suppose I could mount these clutches in the cockpit.
If the halyards are cleated at the mast, it is still a trip to the mast.
As far as raising the sail, the line would extend downward from the clutch to a turning block and then to the cockpit winch.

 

[Davidasailor26]

I have a clutch for the jib halyard on the mast. The halyard routes from there through blocks to a winch at the front of the cockpit. The setup works pretty well. I can hoist the first two thirds by hand at the mast, then let the clutch hold the halyard while I go back to the winch and take it the rest of the way. After it’s hoisted I can just take the halyard off the winch and let the clutch hold it for the season. 10 years of that so far and the line still looks fine.

 

[stickinthemud57]

I agree that the more convenient location for rope clutches are at or near the cockpit. On my boat, the jib sheet winches do double duty when tensioning the various halyards. I have Lewmar clutches and have been VERY happy with them. Even in locked down position they allow further tensioning of the halyards, like a one-way valve if you will. This design is easy on the ropes as well. Hard for me to imagine how you would wear one out, but there it is.

 

[Joe]

I have a '99 Beneteau 411 with roller furling genoa and main. Both Halyards are Samson MLX3, 10mm. My mast has locations for rope clutches that were removed by the previous owner. The clutches would allow easier adjustment of the halyards using the cockpit winches and I would like to replace them. Current method is to use the two eared cleats on the mast. I don't often adjust the halyards.

Somewhere I read that long-term use of a rope clutch in the same rope location damages the rope core- just don't remember where I saw it.

Comments?

I

There is no reason to have a clutch so far from the winch. You absolutely do not need it and if you run the halyard with the clutch on you will definitely do damage to the rope's cover. Line strength won't suffer that much because double braid's like mlx 3 are core dependent, but the outside will start looking ragged and you don't want that.

Clutches should be placed a foot or two ahead of the winch so it's not tied up in service to one particular line.

No matter what action you take, I suggest you never run the line through the clutch while it is engaged. You can certainly take advantage of the clutch's convenient one way holding power, but only in small increments for minor adjustments. nope.. here's where you enjoy the convenience of self tailing winches.

 

[Davidasailor26]

I could think of reasons to have a clutch on the mast rather than at the winch. For one thing it would mean if you don’t adjust the halyard frequently you could tighten it with the winch then bundle it on the horn cleat on the mast, out of the way from the cockpit. It could also make it a little easier to raise the sail singlehanded at the start of the season, you pull the halyard a bit, go forward and pre-feed, then back to the mast and repeat.

Both of the above are probably pretty minor advantages and having the clutch closer to the winch is probably more convenient in general, if you have the space to install one there.

if you run the halyard with the clutch on you will definitely do damage to the rope's cover.

I’ve got Spinlock XAS clutches for three halyards, mainsheet, outhaul, inhaul, jib furler, and vang. I never open the clutches when pulling any of those in. After 10 years I see no damage to the line covers.

 

[dlochner]

An alternative to a clutch on the mast would be a cam cleat. The cleat can secure the halyard while the last bit of tension is applied by the winch and held by the clutch. Racing boats often have these for the spinnaker and jib, the foredeck can raise the sail most of the way, the pit crew then finishes the hoist. Once the sail is up, the halyard is removed from the cam cleat by the fore deck before heading to the rail.

 

[Stu Jackson]

As far as raising the sail, the line would extend downward from the clutch to a turning block and then to the cockpit winch.

If it's only for raising the mainsail, then try this, it saves running back and forth to the mast which makes NO sense at all. It's like what Dave said but without going back to the mast again at all.

Single Handing 101.3 Mainsail Cam Cleat photo (thx to Noah) In Boom furling and WinchRite

 

[BarryL]

Hi,

Personally, I adjust the halyard tension on my boat frequently, Like just about every time I sail. This includes the main halyard and the headsail halyard. I find that something as small as a 1" adjustment in halyard tension has a significant impact on sail performance. I do a fair amount of racing so a few tenths of a kt in boatspeed is important.

I have a bank of line clutches in front of my coachroof mounted winches. The clutches hold main, headsail and spinnaker halyards, outhaul, reef1, reef 2, and boom vang.

I understand wanting a clutch at the mast to make jumping the halyard easier, but I think a simple cam cleat would be a better way.

IMHO the clutch should be near the winch so you can reach it.

Barry

 

[thinwater]

The main cause of rope damamge by clutches is releasing them under load. The rope has to skid past the teeth. Instead, take the tension on the winch first. Holding itself is not typically damaging.

The other cause of damamge is closing the clutch after it has already taken some of the load with the handle half closed. When you push the handle down it will feel very hard, because the cam is already holding the load. Forcing the handle down is a good way to damage the rope and break the handle.