I have a 2001 Hunter 310 and one of my rope clutches has developed a crack in the plastic housing and I will need to replace it. The broken clutch is a Spinock XA. I have reviewed what is available from Spinlock, LewMar and Antac but am undecided on which one to purchase. I don't want to replace it it again in a few years so I would prefer a metal housing or something that will stand up to the sun. The boat spent a few years on the Texas coast and is now on a lake in central Texas. Not sure why it cracked. I find it hard to believe that the sun did that much damage on something that should be designed to handle the constant sun. Does anyone have a strong preference and why?
Replacing Rope Clutch
- Thread starter KenK13623
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Practical Sailor comparison
this link to a recent PS review might help http://www.practical-sailor.com/sample/Rope_Clutch_Test.html Although they apparently did not include Garhauer clutches in the review, they are stainless steel if your primary concern is to avoid plastic and also have a good reputation for quality
this link to a recent PS review might help http://www.practical-sailor.com/sample/Rope_Clutch_Test.html Although they apparently did not include Garhauer clutches in the review, they are stainless steel if your primary concern is to avoid plastic and also have a good reputation for quality
rope clutch
We replaced ours with garhauer clutches 3 years ago. They have worked very well and are ofexcellent quality at ~60% of the cost of harkin, sheaffer, and others. Also replaced all blocks with garhauer over the past 2 years - wouldn't bother with any other manufacturer.
We replaced ours with garhauer clutches 3 years ago. They have worked very well and are ofexcellent quality at ~60% of the cost of harkin, sheaffer, and others. Also replaced all blocks with garhauer over the past 2 years - wouldn't bother with any other manufacturer.
Spinlock Rope clutches
Ken, I have a 99 model Hunter 310. I updated the clutches on my boat about two years ago. I installed the newer spinlock xas clutches beacause of the easy swap. They have identical footprint/bolt pattern. Hunter has molded an aluminum backing plate into the cabin top where the clutches are placed and then simply tapped the plate to accept the mounting bolts. Access to the underside of the location is limited and would be difficult to through bolt. I did not want to add additional tap holes into the plate and possibly weaken it and keeping the same bolt pattern seemed like the right solution. I had not experienced any problems or failures with the old clutches, I wanted the new release technology in the xas models. Good luck with your project Dennis W. S/V Fullsailed
Ken, I have a 99 model Hunter 310. I updated the clutches on my boat about two years ago. I installed the newer spinlock xas clutches beacause of the easy swap. They have identical footprint/bolt pattern. Hunter has molded an aluminum backing plate into the cabin top where the clutches are placed and then simply tapped the plate to accept the mounting bolts. Access to the underside of the location is limited and would be difficult to through bolt. I did not want to add additional tap holes into the plate and possibly weaken it and keeping the same bolt pattern seemed like the right solution. I had not experienced any problems or failures with the old clutches, I wanted the new release technology in the xas models. Good luck with your project Dennis W. S/V Fullsailed
MAKE SURE.....
the mount holes line up. Otherwise it is time to drill into the fiberglass and tap new holes into the mounting plate. Hunters are good boats. I like this mounting system. It keeps water out of the core. But makes mounting new equipment harder. I would replace in kind if at all possible.
the mount holes line up. Otherwise it is time to drill into the fiberglass and tap new holes into the mounting plate. Hunters are good boats. I like this mounting system. It keeps water out of the core. But makes mounting new equipment harder. I would replace in kind if at all possible.
Lewmar
I ditto the opinions about Garhauer. I have a rigid vang and adjustable genoa lead cars from Them. Good stuff, good prices. HOwever, I installed Lewmar rope clutches spring 06 for the main traveller & vang line because of PS article already mentioned here. PS opines that the method of rope grab by the Lewmar will be less damaging to the line + other benefits. Quite happy with them. Purchased through Defender. Had some initial problem with them locking down but they replaced promptly no hassle. Advice from that might be to check them over with line running through them prior to install in case they are still having some problems.
I ditto the opinions about Garhauer. I have a rigid vang and adjustable genoa lead cars from Them. Good stuff, good prices. HOwever, I installed Lewmar rope clutches spring 06 for the main traveller & vang line because of PS article already mentioned here. PS opines that the method of rope grab by the Lewmar will be less damaging to the line + other benefits. Quite happy with them. Purchased through Defender. Had some initial problem with them locking down but they replaced promptly no hassle. Advice from that might be to check them over with line running through them prior to install in case they are still having some problems.
More Lewmar
I,ve had a couple of Lewmar triples on the cabin top of my Hunter 33 for about 7 years so far. The work easily and have caused no wear to the rope that I ahve been able to see. While much of the equipment on my boat is Garhauer, what they sell are cam stoppers with teeth. They just look like they want to eat up rope and don't have the ease of use of the Lewmars.
I,ve had a couple of Lewmar triples on the cabin top of my Hunter 33 for about 7 years so far. The work easily and have caused no wear to the rope that I ahve been able to see. While much of the equipment on my boat is Garhauer, what they sell are cam stoppers with teeth. They just look like they want to eat up rope and don't have the ease of use of the Lewmars.
More Lewmar
I,ve had a couple of Lewmar triples on the cabin top of my Hunter 33 for about 7 years so far. The work easily and have caused no wear to the rope that I ahve been able to see. While much of the equipment on my boat is Garhauer, what they sell are cam stoppers with teeth. They just look like they want to eat up rope and don't have the ease of use of the Lewmars.
I,ve had a couple of Lewmar triples on the cabin top of my Hunter 33 for about 7 years so far. The work easily and have caused no wear to the rope that I ahve been able to see. While much of the equipment on my boat is Garhauer, what they sell are cam stoppers with teeth. They just look like they want to eat up rope and don't have the ease of use of the Lewmars.
Like Popeye...
....I replaced all my Spinlock XA's with Spinlock XAS's on my 321 when I bought it in 2003. Not that they were worn out, they were fine and I sold them on eBay. The new XAS series has a much nicer (and easier) action on the handle. The XA's push and sort of lock into place by friction, whereas the XAS's have a over-center-feel 'snap' to them when they are closed. Sort of like you only have to gently close them and they snap into the locked-closed position themselves. They also seem to open easier under load. Anyway, the 321 also has the embedded plates in the deck core into which the screws thread into, no internal nut. A little Loc-Tite will keep them from loosening. Tim
....I replaced all my Spinlock XA's with Spinlock XAS's on my 321 when I bought it in 2003. Not that they were worn out, they were fine and I sold them on eBay. The new XAS series has a much nicer (and easier) action on the handle. The XA's push and sort of lock into place by friction, whereas the XAS's have a over-center-feel 'snap' to them when they are closed. Sort of like you only have to gently close them and they snap into the locked-closed position themselves. They also seem to open easier under load. Anyway, the 321 also has the embedded plates in the deck core into which the screws thread into, no internal nut. A little Loc-Tite will keep them from loosening. Tim
Like Popeye...
....I replaced all my Spinlock XA's with Spinlock XAS's on my 321 when I bought it in 2003. Not that they were worn out, they were fine and I sold them on eBay. The new XAS series has a much nicer (and easier) action on the handle. The XA's push and sort of lock into place by friction, whereas the XAS's have a over-center-feel 'snap' to them when they are closed. Sort of like you only have to gently close them and they snap into the locked-closed position themselves. They also seem to open easier under load. Anyway, the 321 also has the embedded plates in the deck core into which the screws thread into, no internal nut. A little Loc-Tite will keep them from loosening. Tim
....I replaced all my Spinlock XA's with Spinlock XAS's on my 321 when I bought it in 2003. Not that they were worn out, they were fine and I sold them on eBay. The new XAS series has a much nicer (and easier) action on the handle. The XA's push and sort of lock into place by friction, whereas the XAS's have a over-center-feel 'snap' to them when they are closed. Sort of like you only have to gently close them and they snap into the locked-closed position themselves. They also seem to open easier under load. Anyway, the 321 also has the embedded plates in the deck core into which the screws thread into, no internal nut. A little Loc-Tite will keep them from loosening. Tim
Garhauer
A garhauer is about 47 Dollars, and if you want to make a 1 into a twin you can buy another clutch and order the longer bolts to attach them together, and increase them to any size cluster. I made my four into 5 clusters. They also sell you spare parts. Marco
A garhauer is about 47 Dollars, and if you want to make a 1 into a twin you can buy another clutch and order the longer bolts to attach them together, and increase them to any size cluster. I made my four into 5 clusters. They also sell you spare parts. Marco
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