Barton Marine's complete DO 550 rope clutch — Single, Double, and Triple — is discontinued, but MAURIPRO stocks the four genuine spares that keep an existing one running: the base plate, cam, handle, and spring assembly. All four fit any Single, Double, or Triple DO 550 unit and are sized to 5/16–1/2 in (8–12 mm) line. Match the worn part to the symptom below before you order.
This is written for the cruiser who already owns a Barton DO 550 clutch — commonly run in banks of two or three at the base of the mast or on the cabin top of 30–45 ft boats — and whose clutch has started slipping, binding, or won't lock cleanly. The clutch body itself rarely fails outright; it's almost always one of four wearing components.
Barton designed the DO 550 range with bolt-together construction specifically so individual worn parts could be replaced without swapping the whole unit, per the manufacturer's own product documentation. That design choice is what makes it worth fixing a clutch whose complete replacement is no longer available new.
Barton DO 550 rope clutch parts at a glance
| Part | Fixes this symptom | SKU | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cam | Clutch won't grip the line or slips under load | BAM-81546 | $11.99 |
| Spring Assembly | Cam won't stay engaged, or the handle feels loose or spongy | BAM-81549 | $7.99 |
| Handle | Handle is cracked, snapped, or missing | BAM-81545 | $9.99 |
| Base Plate | Mounting base is corroded, cracked, or the fairlead is worn through | BAM-81547 | $17.99 |
Shop all Barton rope clutch parts →
Where can I buy Barton rope clutch replacement parts?
MAURIPRO stocks all four genuine Barton Marine DO 550 spares directly — the base plate, cam, handle, and spring assembly — so you can replace only the part that actually failed instead of hunting for a used clutch or a third-party substitute. Each ships as a standalone spare, not bundled, so you order exactly what your clutch needs.
Are complete Barton DO 550 rope clutches still available?
No. Barton's complete DO 550 clutch — Single, Double, and Triple configurations alike — is discontinued and no longer in production; all three are listed archived, not orderable, in MAURIPRO's own live catalog as of this writing. The clutch body, cam housing, and mounting base are no longer sold new as a complete unit. What remains available are the wearing spares that let an existing DO 550 keep running.
Which Barton rope clutch part do I need?
Match the symptom to the part. A cam that no longer bites the line under load needs the Cam (BAM-81546). A handle that feels loose, won't return, or has snapped off needs the Handle (BAM-81545). A clutch that won't hold tension even after a fresh cam usually needs the Spring Assembly (BAM-81549), which supplies the closing force behind the cam. A cracked, corroded, or stripped mounting surface needs the Base Plate (BAM-81547). Check all four before ordering just one — a fatigued spring is a common hidden cause behind a cam that still looks fine but keeps slipping.
Will these parts fit my Single, Double, or Triple DO 550 clutch?
Yes. Barton sells the cam, handle, spring assembly, and base plate as generic DO 550 spares — not split by Single, Double, or Triple — because a Double or Triple unit is simply two or three of the same clutch module bolted to a shared bar. Independent Barton stockists list the same spare cam and spring assembly as fitting "any size" DO 550 clutch, consistent with how MAURIPRO's own listings are structured. All three configurations share the same 5/16–1/2 in (8–12 mm) line range and the same holding power rating of up to 550 kg per line — the number the model name comes from, per Barton's published specification.
What if my Barton rope clutch needs to be replaced entirely?
If the clutch body, cam housing, or mounting base itself is cracked or corroded beyond what the Base Plate spare covers, no individual part will fix it — and Barton doesn't offer a direct like-for-like replacement for the discontinued DO 550. In that case, size a new clutch to your line diameter and working load rather than to the old Barton model number; MAURIPRO's Antal and Spinlock rope clutch guides (linked below) walk through matching a new clutch to your halyard or sheet diameter.
Which should I choose — a single spare, or a new clutch from another brand?
Order the individual spare — cam, handle, spring assembly, or base plate — whenever the rest of the clutch is structurally sound and only one component has worn out. It's the cheaper, faster fix, and it's still genuine Barton hardware sized to your existing setup. Move to a new clutch from Antal, Spinlock, or Lewmar's current ranges only when the clutch body itself is damaged, or when you're standardizing a bank of clutches during a larger deck-hardware refit.
Expert notes
From our rigging bench: on a DO 550 that's several seasons old, check the spring assembly before you replace the cam. A fatigued spring reduces the closing force on the cam teeth and can mimic a worn cam even when the cam itself still has plenty of grip left.
Salt buildup inside the cam housing is the other common culprit behind inconsistent grip. A fresh-water rinse and a light silicone-based (not petroleum) lubricant on the cam pivot often restores smooth operation before you need to spend on a spare part at all.
Common mistakes
- Ordering the cam when the spring assembly is the real problem. A cam that looks fine but a clutch that still won't hold tension after replacing it usually points to a fatigued spring, not the cam teeth.
- Assuming a used or salvaged DO 550 body is a safe long-term fix. Since Barton no longer produces the complete unit, a secondhand clutch body has no factory replacement path if it fails later — plan on eventual full replacement rather than relying on it indefinitely.
- Mixing Barton spares with another brand's clutch. The base plate, cam, handle, and spring assembly are sized to Barton's own DO 550 housing and won't fit another manufacturer's clutch body.
- Overlooking the line-size range. Every DO 550 spare is built for 5/16–1/2 in (8–12 mm) line; if your working line falls outside that range, the clutch was undersized or oversized for the load from the start.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I buy genuine Barton Marine DO 550 rope clutch parts?
MAURIPRO stocks all four genuine Barton spares — the base plate, cam, handle, and spring assembly — for the DO 550 rope clutch, sized to 5/16–1/2 in (8–12 mm) line.
Are Barton DO 550 complete rope clutch units still made?
No. The complete Single, Double, and Triple DO 550 clutch units are discontinued and listed as archived in MAURIPRO's own catalog; only the individual spare parts remain available.
Will the same spare parts fit the Single, Double, and Triple DO 550 clutch?
Yes. All three configurations use the same base plate, cam, handle, and spring assembly module — a Double or Triple unit is simply two or three of that module mounted on a shared bar.
How do I know if I need the cam or the spring assembly?
If the cam teeth show visible wear and the line slips under load, replace the cam. If the cam looks fine but the clutch still won't hold tension, the spring assembly behind it has likely lost closing force.
What line size do Barton DO 550 clutches take?
5/16 to 1/2 in (8 to 12 mm) line, with a holding power of up to 550 kg per line, across the Single, Double, and Triple configurations, per Barton's published specification.
Can I use Barton DO 550 spares on a different brand's rope clutch?
No. These spares are sized and shaped specifically to Barton's own DO 550 housing and aren't interchangeable with Antal, Spinlock, Lewmar, or other manufacturers' clutch bodies.
Recommended gear
Barton Marine DO 550 Rope Clutch – Cam — the direct fix for a clutch that no longer bites the line under load.
Barton Marine DO 550 Rope Clutch – Spring Assembly — restores closing force on a clutch that won't hold tension.
Barton Marine DO 550 Rope Clutch – Handle — replaces a cracked, snapped, or missing lever.
Barton Marine DO 550 Rope Clutch – Base Plate — for a corroded or cracked mounting base.
Shop all Barton rope clutch parts →