Rope Clutch Mounting Problem

[morgantheship]

I have a Hunter 27', 1980 vintage. It has the original rope clutch (Triple). I am replacing it with a Lawmar Triple. In looking at the mounting I found that the screws or bolts do not go all the way through the cabin head liner.

I am wondering if there is a steel plate that is mounted beneath the cabin top and the cabin head liner in which to mount the new rope clutch to? Or do I have to configure the mounting through the cabin head liner?

Have any other Hunter 27' owners gone through this experience? Thanks for any input.

 

[Steve Dion]

I think you will find that the existing clutch has machine screws that secure it to an embedded aluminum plate.

I would also suggest that you take a look at the Garhauer Marine clutches before you go with the Lewmar. They are guaranteed for 10 years and are very robust.

Hopefully you can use one set of holes but you may need to drill/tap a new set if they do not match up.

 

[stephen Penny]

I just replaced my older clutches with new Lewmar triple+double clutches on each side of my cabin topside. The clutches were moved aft to avoid interferring with the new dodger. I drilled holes and bolted these these from the cabin topside to the interior cabin (unseen from interior). On my boat I was able to remove a ceiling plate inside the cabin to unbolt and tighten the nuts. Then I filled in the remaining holes left by the old clutches, re-gelcoated and wet sanded.

 

[FourPoints]

the triple clutches on my 1990 Hunter 27 all have stainless or aluminum backing plates embedded from the factory under the glass / gelcoat.

All of the flat mounting surfaces that do not have access to the back from inside the cabin have backing plates preinstalled in the hull.

 

[DianaOfBurlington]

If the backing plates are embedded securely you can drill and tap in the same area for new holes for a different mounting pattern. I would hope to be able to get all the way through and put locknuts however. If there is ANY way of opening up the liner/headliner material to have access to this, that is the best (and really only) way to go.

Consider also the excellent Ronstan rope clutches, which resemble some of the older-style ones and look good with old-school Schaefer/Barton blocks. Lewmar are definitely the best but still expensive. I like the old-rev Schaefer ones best... wish they still made them.