Replacing cams with clutches and backing

[Peter34]

Hi All,

I love getting the backing of the collective wisdom here before I drill/cut/remove or what have you. So thank you all in advance.

I am considering replacing two of my cams with a double clutch. I've attached some photos. The line shown is for the centerboard. The line not present is my main halyard. In one of the photos you can see the current situation for backing of both the winch and the cams. Seems less than ideal. only one of the two cams has a through bolt. There seems to be an empty hole and I presume the other three cam screws are wood screws into the wood deck mount. My thought would be to remove cams, install clutch with through bolts (4) with washers and locknuts.

1. Any reason not to do this?
2. Appropriate backing for either the cams or clutches? Through bolts with washers enough? or Add an aluminum plate for the whole winch/clutch assembly?

Thanks much for any input.

 

[Bolo]

Generally speaking, I think this would be a good upgrade for your boat but I can see a possible problem. That would be the distance between the rope clutches and the winch. Seems they may be a bit too close to each other but I’m not sure so maybe someone else can chime in about my concern. Down below however I think that a nice 1/4 inch thick aluminum plate with holes for all of the rope clutch fasteners and another plate for the winch is definitely in order. I just completed a similar upgrade of sorts to my E32-3 and the results can be seen in one of my YouTube videos:

You may get some ideas from it and you can see that I positioned the winch as far away from the clutches as the cabin to would allow.

 

[Loren Beach]

I replaced the OEM clutches several years ago. UV was slowly destroying their handles and they were starting to slip under load. I used G10 backing plate pieces, although EY used their signature extra-thick plate washers and the balsa core did not show any compression at all. I did epoxy-fill-and-redrill for all the holes. I also moved winches and clutches for easier use. I agonized a bit over how close the incoming halyard could be to the "input side" of the winches, and sort of recall that 10 to 12 inches might be a good minimum. Also, line up the clutch bank so that the lines are aiming at the input side of the drum; this will result in the layout of the clutches vs the winches Not being symmetrical on port and starboard.
There are several good threads on the site about changing winches and clutches, and here is my blog entry.

O34 - New Housetop Winches & Clutches

The June-July project was to 1) replace the factory Lewmar ST30 winch on each side, 2) replace the out-of-production clutch stoppers on each side, and 3) move both winches aft toward the rear edge and move the clutch array back to make them a lot...

ericsonyachts.org

 

[Phr3d]

Not being symmetrical on port and starboard.

True dat!

This really is a thing to think out thoroughly.

 

[gabriel]

I don’t think backing other than washers is necessary on our small boats as the forces exerted are small compared to the strength of the material. The forces exerted are also mainly lateral.

I would finish the interior threads with an acorn nuts in case your scalp ever meets one.



this is my rope clutch but the winches are also bolted like this and it’s held 50 years!

 

[Christian Williams]

E381 - Replace Line Clutches, Thelonious II

Ericson 38 sailboat deck gear line clutches Christian Williams Thelonious II

ericsonyachts.org

 

[bgary]

and....

Halyard-winch rehab (part 1 of 2)

Big projects start with small ideas A while back I decided I wanted to update the deck hardware on either side of my companionway***. The winches were a little small, none of them were self-tailers, and, frankly, the way the lines were led to...

ericsonyachts.org

Halyard-winch rehab (part 2 of 2)

Once I knew where things were going to be, I needed to figure out how to build “pads” to get them to the right height and angle. That was an interesting challenge. I first ordered a couple of angled teak winch pads from Amazon. Besides being...

ericsonyachts.org

I think it's a worthwhile upgrade. The key bit is making sure the lead to the winch (both horizontally and vertically) is good. I made custom pads to get things lined up the way I wanted.

And, yeah, not symmetrical messes with my OCD, but no way around it.

 

[boatgeek]

Hi folks, I'm wondering what line size Lewmar DC2 clutches folks choose for their various sized boats. I have an O34 that I am working to refit with new clutches, and I will be running new running rigging soon, so it is something of an open book. I've read Loren's and Christians' posts about new clutches (very useful), and see that Loren noted DC2, but didn't see line size. I'm struck by the narrow range on line diameter for the Lewmars. My old t boat had lewmars from years ago with anodized aluminum handles that worked beautifully... Some trepidation about the headliner and newly visible epoxy holes in the cabin top, so wondering if I will move the positions like Loren did. Thank you !

 

[Phr3d]

What was in stock that day dictated the Spinlock XTS triple power clutch I wound up (and then added other Spinlock clutches to match) - fits 5/16 - 9 /16 line. Mostly the halyards, reefing lines, the vang and main sheet are all 10mm ish.

 

[Loren Beach]

When I changed from the OEM fatter dacron braid-on-braid, I went with T-900, whenever I could find a sale price on it. 5/16" holds fine in our clutches and also holds on the tops of our self tailing winches.