The annual and sprawling Marine Equipment Trade Show in Amsterdam in November has become the time and place for manufacturers to debut new gear for the coming year, and Spinlock is always one to deliver with something cool and innovative. This year, they bring to the table an innovative constrictor-style clutch designed to be easy on your ropes, simple to maintain, and reliable to use.
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According to a pre-METS release, the new XTX Clutch is designed for mid-load rope holding using a braided “softgrip” technology to engage and hold a loaded rope. Similar in concept to a Chinese Finger Trap, when loaded, an internal fiber sleeve grips the length of rope inside the clutch, rather than pinching it like a traditional clutch, resulting in less wear and tear on the rope cover and a more reliable release. An internal spring controls the sleeve tension with push button lever activation “ensuring finger-tip on/off control.” Units will be available in early 2020, with black as the standard body color. Other colors are available direct from Spinlock in the UK. $240. For more: www.spinlock.com.
