Rope Clutches

[Spector]

I installed Lewmar D1 triple cluthes this past winter and I love them. I have the jib sheets, main halyard, and two reefing lines run thru them. It gives me room for a downhaul if I choose to add it later.

[Wayne nicol]

so here's a question why are my factory fitted clutches off to the side- and not in line with the winch- does this make sense to anyone- or is that standard- surely there will be times when the winch will help with the clutches

[kurz]

Can pull the dagger, halyard etc. all from the helm seat.
If you are like me, you will enjoy them too.

Ok, sounds good. But I cannot understand: How can you handle all the lines from the helm seat? Did you put the lines till the stern of the boat? Otherwise you had to leave the helm and move till the hatch...???

[Russ]

so here's a question why are my factory fitted clutches off to the side- and not in line with the winch- does this make sense to anyone- or is that standard- surely there will be times when the winch will help with the clutches

The factory never installed clutches. Maybe Mike Inmon's dealership at the factory did.
I really have never used my winches. My winches are mounted aft of the clutches so they can assist if needed. If they were next to the clutches they wouldn't be much good.

[Russ]

Can pull the dagger, halyard etc. all from the helm seat.
If you are like me, you will enjoy them too.

Ok, sounds good. But I cannot understand: How can you handle all the lines from the helm seat? Did you put the lines till the stern of the boat? Otherwise you had to leave the helm and move till the hatch...???

I don't keep the lines all the way to the helm until I'm somewhat ready to use them. The daggerboard line for example, I'll pull it back and lay it over the throttle. Then I can yank it up quickly to release it or raise it. If it's not there (at the pedestal) , it's a short reach to come around the pedestal and grab the line and get back behind the wheel. The thing about the spinlocks is you don't have to physically touch the clutches. You just pull or yank the line it up to unlock it.
I've used the lever types and they require you to actually push the lever down to lock it. These spinlocks will auto-latch if you pull straight back. Very simple and intuitive in my opinion. The admiral still can't quite figure out to pull back and up to unlatch them.

My jib sheets are aft on the track on a different cam cleat system. All my sheets are available from the helm. Dagger and main halyard is pretty close with the spinlock cleats.

My roller furler is still on a simple cam cleat to pull it back in. This works okay. Can't really think of an improvement.

--Russ

[Wayne nicol]

sorry, let me clarify, my clutch's are forward of the winch by about a foot, but out of alignment by at least 6" so there is no way you could use the winch to snug up a halyard, or even use the winch to un jam the clutch- oh well!!!!

[Russ]

sorry, let me clarify, my clutch's are forward of the winch by about a foot, but out of alignment by at least 6" so there is no way you could use the winch to snug up a halyard, or even use the winch to un jam the clutch- oh well!!!!

However, now that I think about it, I have used the winch a couple of times to tighten up the main halyard.
Mine aren't lined up very well either. And I see what you mean. I never need the winch for the dagger, but the haylard is another story. So I made sure the halyard is the INSIDE (closest to the winch) Spinlock cleat. This way there is less sideways pull on the cleat. I wouldn't want to put too much winch pressure on those because your are right, they might pull sideways and bend/break the clutch cleats. But I have been able to winch it up tight.
This is the way BWY rigged my boat and I feel it works very well.

Main haylard is coiled up on the lifeline. Blue line is dagger board line. Hard to see. Sorry, best photo I could find.
BTW, I have no idea what that top cleat is for. I've never used it.

[RobertB]

Top cleat is the factory method of securing the daggerboard.

My biggest concern is if the Spinlock cleats are easily accidentally released when someone is walking near them.

[Russ]

Top cleat is the factory method of securing the daggerboard.

My biggest concern is if the Spinlock cleats are easily accidentally released when someone is walking near them.

Makes sense for daggerboard.

I think it would be very difficult to release the spinlocks. The only way to release them is to take the loose end and pull up and back sharply. As I said, the admiral is too gentle and they don't release for her. I step on them all the time and they are very sturdy.

[RobertB]

What if you kick the top of the cleat - have one in my hand it seems this would open it the same?

[Bill at BOATS 4 SAIL]

I install Garhauer 11-12S Rope Clutches on virtually all of the boats I've sold over the past 20+ years, hundreds of them. Main Halyard & Dagger Board on the starboard side - Jib Halyard & Downhaul (or RF furling line) portside, on the 26M.
I've tried several other brands over the years, but always came back to Garhauer, and haven't used any other brand for about 10 years. Others break (plastic), shred your lines, require different sizes for different size lines, over-priced, etc.
I install them just outboard of the winch on both sides. You should not need a winch to tighten your halyards. They are sheet winches. I don't use the winches for the sheets, either. I run the sheets (Jib/Genoa/Spinnaker) directly aft to my EZ Cleats on the Genoa track, and tack from the helm. The only thing I use my winch for is to tighten up my hammock on the fore-deck.
If the wind is on the nose, do you need the winch to tighten up your sheet? - No, they are blowing straight aft.
If the wind is on the beam, do you need the winch to tighten up your sheet? - Maybe. Or, do as I do. Turn slightly into the wind to take the tension off the sheet, sheet in, and head back off.

[RobertB]

Am I right in assuming you do not use 3/16 line with the factory roller furler? Garhauer site states clutches are for minimum of 5/16 inch line.

Also very interested how you rig the hammock.

[Wayne nicol]

i think i will mine over, so that they line up.
will do it thgis week- going out to the west coast of our island for 4 days next weekend for salmon fishing and sailing.

[RobertB]

I received the BWY Halyard aft kit (different from the Mike Inmon Halyard aft kit). Uses the Spinlock PXR cleats (BWY calls the clutches ). The instructions have the cleats located 12 inches in front of the starboard winch. Does anyone have this installation and if so, do you ever accidentally trip open the cleat when walking forward? Any other recommendations?

[Tomfoolery]

I've had boats with rope clutches forward of the winches, and never had an issue with them opening when walking forward. They really have to be forward of the winch, at least if you're going to use the winch with that line.

The only one I have now is for the main halyard, but I use it for the MRS so I can pull with one hand and just stop anywhere.