Will a 3/8 line work in a Lewmar DC2 clutch?
A 3/8 line works in a Lewmar DC2 clutch sized for 5/16 to 3/8 inches (8-10 mm). The practical upside is less rope wear — there's no row of teeth...
Sailboat Rope Clutches & JammersHow-To Guides
Hold and release lines under load with clutches and jammers matched to your rope diameters. Learn how to lay out and select clutches for a clean, efficient cockpit.
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Which Spinlock Rope Clutch Service Kit Do You Need?
Spinlock's XTS, XAS, XTR, and XTX rope clutches each need their own service kit, matched by model and rope-diameter range, not just the Spinlock name. Here's how to identify your...
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What should I look for when buying a rope jammer?
A rope clutch operates much like a jammer but with one key difference: it can release a line while the line is still under load. The core difference is load...
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Which Spinlock Powerclutch Do You Need? XXA vs. XXB vs. XXC Compared
Spinlock's XXA, XXB, and XXC Powerclutches step up by load and construction, not line diameter -- all three fit 8-12mm line. See which fits your halyard, and where each is...
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What's the Difference Between a Lewmar DC1 and DC2 Rope Clutch?
Lewmar's DC1 and DC2 rope clutches share the same Domino Cluster mechanism, but the DC1 caps at a 500 kg working load on 6-12mm line while the DC2 scales to...
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What's the Difference Between Antal's CAM 611 and V-CAM Rope Clutches?
Antal's V-CAM rope clutches use a V-shaped cam that grips a line on three sides, instead of the two-sided pinch of the CAM 611's flat cam. See how the load...
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Where to Buy Replacement Parts for a Barton Rope Clutch
Barton's complete DO 550 rope clutch has been discontinued, but the base plate, cam, handle, and spring assembly are still genuine Barton spares. Here's how to match the right part...
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What Do the Handle Labels on a Spinlock Rope Clutch Mean?
Spinlock's official handle labels are printed name tags, not a color-coding system -- a multi-language sheet that fits any XAS, XTS, or XCS clutch handle. Here's what's on the sheet,...
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Which Rope Clutch Do You Need for Your Halyard or Sheet Diameter?
A rope clutch is sized on two separate numbers: its rated line-diameter range and its maximum working load. See how Antal's CAM 611 through V-Grip Plus range covers 6-16mm and...
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Which Spinlock Rope Clutch Do You Need? XAS vs. XTS vs. XCS Compared
Spinlock's XAS, XTS, and XCS rope clutches step up by rated load, not boat size alone. See which one fits your line diameter and working load, and where each is...
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What Is a Swivel Cam Cleat, and When Do You Need One?
What a swivel cam cleat base actually does, when you need one instead of a fixed cleat, and how to size and maintain one for your sailboat's control lines.
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How Does a Rope Clutch Work?
A rope clutch locks a loaded halyard, sheet, or reef line in place with a spring-loaded cam — and releases it cleanly even under load. Here's how the mechanism works,...
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Rope Clutches & Jammers
What is the real difference between a clutch and a jammer, and which one holds a loaded line safely? Learn how cam design, working load, and line diameter decide whether...
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Mastering the Basics of Cam Cleats: A Comprehensive Guide
A cam cleat is a spring-loaded fitting with two grooved, toothed jaws that grip a line under tension yet release it instantly with a quick upward pull. It is the...
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Selecting Cleats vs Clutches
Choose a cam cleat when you constantly adjust a line by hand, and a rope clutch or jammer when the line needs to be held under sustained load, such as...
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Jammers vs. Clutches
The core difference is load release: a rope clutch can be opened and let a line run while it is still under load, whereas a jammer cannot be released under...
