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Testimonials
Many stern gear suppliers are aware of the benefits of this new type of rope cutter as well as some boat builders.
An e-mail from a customer who had QuicKutters™ fitted two years ago in Darthaven.
Neil,Many thanks for the prompt despatch of a set of replacement blades to
Darthaven Marina on my behalf earlier this year.
Only a couple of weeks after they were fitted my attention wandered
entering Weymouth Harbour and the starboard prop picked up a rope
attached to a (very) small float. The resultant noise and vibration,
both general and through the helm, was a test of nerves that I have no
wish to repeat. However, after a minute or two of slipping the engine
in and out of gear the vibration gradually stopped and I was happy to
see many meters of rope departing astern. I suspect that the time
taken to clear the rope was lengthened by the slow speed we were
traveling at - the props were probably only rotating at 300/500 rpm,
and the vibration dissuaded me from any increase.
After berthing I got a diver to inspect the stern gear and cutters for
any resultant damage and was glad to be told, somewhat to my
amazement, that all was ok. You've mentioned to me before that often a
short loop can be left loose around the shaft, and this is exactly
what the diver found. I assume that had we not removed it, it would
have been flung off once we'd left harbour and the boat speed was
increased.
I've attached a photo of the remains as recovered - the rope was 16mm
braid on braid, also some photos of the installation. Feel free to use
these if you wish - I can let you have some higher resolution versions
if you require.
Images of this fitting are in the Gallery.
Legend Boats of Australia have been fitting the QuicKutter™ cutters for over a year to a wide range of craft their comments are detailed in the letter below.
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
To Whom It May Concern,
Our towage operations have, on several occasions, been interrupted by the necessity to dock vessels with leaking propeller shaft seals. This has occurred due to propellers ensnaring polypropylene lines used by recreational crab fisherman on their traps.
We experimented with two series 25 cutters aboard MT Gibson fitted during an emergency docking in November 2003. The vessel has not required docking since the cutters were fitted.
As a result of the success with MT Gibson, it is now company policy to fit the series 25 cutter to each tug as and when they are docked.
Yours sincerely,
John Hosie
AMS Brisbane, Operations & Engineering ManagerWebsite: www.ams2000.com.au
