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24-01-2012, 06:24
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Heath, TX
Boat: 1978 Pearson 26 One Design
Posts: 316
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Garhauer Rope Clutches
Garhauer seems to be about 30% less expensive than Lewmar or Spinlock clutches. Are they any good?
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24-01-2012, 06:43
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Good question
Boat: Rafiki 37
Posts: 14,131
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Re: Garhauer Rope Clutches
I've never used any of their clutches, but have many blocks from Garhauer. Quality is top-notch. Never a problem with anything I've bought from them. I plan to purchase a bunch more this season.
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24-01-2012, 06:53
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Annapolis MD
Boat: Building a Max Cruise 44 hybrid electric cat
Posts: 3,194
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Re: Garhauer Rope Clutches
They are very nice products... well built and solid.
If you have the patience to wait for the right ones to show up, you can typically find great deals for Spinlock clutches on eBay. I went with Spinlocks because of the great prices I found.
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24-01-2012, 07:52
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 223
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Re: Garhauer Rope Clutches
We have Garhauer rope clutches that are about 15 yrs old. They aren't fancy, however they are simple so if they ever need maintenance they would be easy to fix. Having said that, they are all stainless steel and pretty much bullet proof.
I would not hesitate to recommend them to any cruiser.
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24-01-2012, 07:56
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Nova Scotia until Spring 2021
Boat: Custom 41' Steel Pilothouse Cutter
Posts: 4,976
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Re: Garhauer Rope Clutches
In addition to bigger items like mainsheet tackles and travellers, I have a box of Garhauer clutches, blocks and other bits and pieces just as spares or "maybes". Their stuff is so well-built and reasonably priced that I haven't hesitated to drop money on stuff they've had at boatshows based on the predictable future need for them.
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24-01-2012, 08:11
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#6
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: San Antonio, TX/Bocas del Toro, Panama
Boat: 1990 Macintosh 47, "Merlin"
Posts: 2,844
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Re: Garhauer Rope Clutches
Garhauer makes fantastic products, that are not commonly available other than directly from them. Therefore, the prices are cheaper - no retailer that needs to mark them up.
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24-01-2012, 08:19
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2007
Boat: Mahe 36, Helia 44 Evo, MY 37
Posts: 5,731
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Re: Garhauer Rope Clutches
Both of my previous boats had Garhauer Rope Clutches. They worked and looked great. Stainless & aluminum will last forever and look new after 20 years
I have Spinlock clutches now and only 3 years old and the black plastic housings are start to fade. Not impressed with Spinlock clutches
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24-01-2012, 12:08
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#8
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Moderator
Join Date: May 2008
Location: cruising SW Pacific
Boat: Jon Sayer 1-off 46 ft fract rig sloop strip plank in W Red Cedar
Posts: 21,134
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Re: Garhauer Rope Clutches
A question for you Garhauser clutch users: will they release under heavy load, or must you unload them to release?
The Spinlock clutches on our boat (main and genoa halyards in particular) will NOT release under normal halyard tension load. I broke a cam handle finding this out! The Lewmar clutches that I installed on my runner tails release under full runner load... every time we tack. The Garhauser prices are attractive as is the appearance, thus my question.
Cheers,
Jim
__________________
Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II, lying Port Cygnet Tasmania once again.
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24-01-2012, 12:15
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2007
Boat: Mahe 36, Helia 44 Evo, MY 37
Posts: 5,731
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Re: Garhauer Rope Clutches
My Garhauer Rope Clutches only released when I wanted them to
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24-01-2012, 12:20
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Houston
Boat: '76 Allied Seawind II, 32'
Posts: 9,626
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Re: Garhauer Rope Clutches
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cotemar
My Garhauer Rope Clutches only released when I wanted them to
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but do you have to relieve the load from them or can you just open the clutch and expect the halyard/runner/foreguy.....etc to be free?
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24-01-2012, 12:29
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#11
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Moderator
Join Date: May 2008
Location: cruising SW Pacific
Boat: Jon Sayer 1-off 46 ft fract rig sloop strip plank in W Red Cedar
Posts: 21,134
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Re: Garhauer Rope Clutches
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cotemar
My Garhauer Rope Clutches only released when I wanted them to
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Just in case you are serious: the reason for using a clutch rather than a cam cleat or equivalent is to be able to release the line under tension when desired. For instance, when reefing the main, I need to slack the halyard a few feet. With my present Spinlock clutches I must put the halyard back on the winch and tension the tail up to somewhere near the load on the other side of the clutch before the clutch will release and I can proceed with reefing. The Lewmar clutches on the runners open easily under full runner load. Thus the question...
If you were just funnin' me, OK, but it was a serious question and I'd appreciate someone's information.
Cheers,
Jim
__________________
Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II, lying Port Cygnet Tasmania once again.
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24-01-2012, 12:40
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Nevada City. CA
Boat: Sceptre 41
Posts: 3,857
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Re: Garhauer Rope Clutches
I have garhauer clutches on my halyards and reef points they do not need to be tensioned to release them. Have had them for four years with no problems.
__________________
Fair Winds,
Charlie
Between us there was, as I have already said somewhere, the bond of the sea. Besides holding our hearts together through long periods of separation, it had the effect of making us tolerant of each other's yarns -- and even convictions. Heart of Darkness
Joseph Conrad
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24-01-2012, 13:21
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#13
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Moderator
Join Date: May 2008
Location: cruising SW Pacific
Boat: Jon Sayer 1-off 46 ft fract rig sloop strip plank in W Red Cedar
Posts: 21,134
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Re: Garhauer Rope Clutches
Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie
I have garhauer clutches on my halyards and reef points they do not need to be tensioned to release them. Have had them for four years with no problems.
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Thanks Charlie... that's the sort of response I was looking for.
Cheers,
Jim
__________________
Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II, lying Port Cygnet Tasmania once again.
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24-01-2012, 13:39
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Tasmania
Boat: VandeStadt IOR 40' - Insatiable
Posts: 2,317
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Re: Garhauer Rope Clutches
We have 12 x Garhauer rope clutches on our yacht. They are well made and robust.
However, they are a fairly simple design and do not release well under significant load: That is to say that you can release them under load, but you are very likely to damage the rope that you are releasing. If their is any significant load on the rope, it is very important to take up that load on a winch before releasing the clutch.
For what it is worth, I probably wouldn't use the Garhauers on for halyards on a boat any bigger than ours (40').
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24-01-2012, 16:52
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2007
Boat: Mahe 36, Helia 44 Evo, MY 37
Posts: 5,731
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Re: Garhauer Rope Clutches
My Garhauer and Spinlock rope clutches release under full load without damaging lines or taking the load off them with a winch.
Its the reason you use rope clutches.
Full load / Release.
Use for main halyard, full load / release to drop the main fast.
Use for main sheet, full load / release to de-power your main
Reefing line, full load / release put in another reef
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