The LOOP Boa Constrictor Clutch - Maximise your deck space
by Aleix Escorsell 22 Apr 2021 12:00 BST
The LOOP Boa Constrictor Clutch - Maximise your deck space © upffront.com
Deck space is prime real estate on a sailboat, with clutches and jammers vying for space, often on narrow areas such as the cabin top or mast. So what do you do if you can't fit any more clutches to your deck? Build vertically!
This blog will introduce the LOOP Boa Base by LOOP products. Designed to be paired with the Cousin constrictor textile clutch to create the Boa Constrictor rope holding solution.
Designed to fit with the Spinlock XAS and XTS/XCS series, the Loop Boa fits underneath the Spinlock clutches and gives you up to four additional clutches.
The base has the same fixtures as the corresponding Spinlock clutch, so if you already have these on your boat, it's simply a case of dismounting your existing clutch, slotting the base into the existing holes and mounting the clutch back on top.
The Textile Rope Clutch
The Loop Boa uses a textile rope clutch design. An extremely popular choice among many racing and cruising sailors, and for good reason. This clutch uses a hollow, braided textile sock which allows the rope to run freely in one direction, but when running in the opposite direction, can immediately hold it in place using the Chinese finger-trap principle.
A textile rope clutch is much kinder to ropes. With no harsh metal teeth to hold the rope, the amount of abrasion on the loaded line is reduced. The load is also distributed equally down the length of the sleeve, which also helps to reduce wear and tear.
In addition, the textile rope clutch is twice as strong as traditional rope clutches. The sock uses friction to hold the rope in place, so the greater the load, the stronger the hold will be.
You are free to release a textile rope clutch under any load without the need for a winch. That makes this the ideal rope holding solution for systems such as halyards where you will quickly need to release the weight while the line is still loaded. The line can be released using the white string that can be seen on the outer side of the Boa base.
The Boa base is designed to be used with the Cousin Trestec spare cover sock, which is now wholly distributed by Ronstan. The Boa base doesn't come with socks, so you will need to purchase one for each constrictor you intend to use.
Boa Base Specifications
The table below shows what Spinlock clutch range each Boa base is compatible with, as well as the total constrictor clutches and total width of the base.
Loop Boa
product code | Compatible
Spinlock Clutches | Total
Constrictor Slots | Width (mm) |
|---|
| XAS2 | XAS Double | 1 | 65 |
| XTC2 | XTS or XCS Double | 1 | 69 |
| XAS3 | XAS Triple | 2 | 91 |
| XTC3 | XTS or XCS Triple | 2 | 99 |
| XAS4 | XAS Quadruple | 3 | 117 |
| XTC4 | XTS or XCS Quadruple | 3 | 131 |
| XAS5 | XAS Quintuple | 4 | 143 |
| XTC5 | XTS or XCS Quintuple | 4 | 162 |
All Boa bases are 30mm in height and 134mm in length.
The Boa base has a removable face panel which reveals the constrictor head. This allows you to easily add and replace the cousin constrictor sock.
Conclusion
The LOOP Boa base is a great option for increasing the number of available clutches, without sacrificing space on your deck. Plus, it's a great way to vary your clutches between traditional and textile clutches, depending on application.
View the Loop Boa Base, or if you have any questions about upgrading your deck hardware, contact , or see the Deck Hardware enquiry form.