OK, my report on alternate grippers & clamps.
I tried cutting up a wooden ruler (you could use a paint stick also) to the recommended 1x2 size and smearing one side with a smooth, thick layer of aquarium grade silicone and mounting the other side with the Velcro. Worked just as well as the gripper, though no better, and requires more labor (but not much). I also cut up some more ruler, and glued some cut up gel shoe insole to one side. It worked fine also, and I find it comfortable enough to use for weights up to about 12 lbs without wrap - so for me the ruler with gel is superior to the gripper, though to be sure less elegant and again more labor.
I have scads of wire-ties onboard, and had a package of the type that have a release lever so they come off easily (like these: http://www.buyc … com/y105rt.html ). As far as I know, every shop that sells electrical supplies will have these, the larger sizes being easier to work with. By hand, I can get the wire tie tight enough to hang 5- 8 lbs, not much but enough to do ADS and light hanging. But with my wire-tie tool (like this one: http://www.buyc … s.com/y100.html ) I can get it as tight as my cable clamp. Of course if you don’t already have a wire-tie tool, then this method certainly adds cost.
I still use the Wench exactly as designed, even after playing around, but I present these explorations in alternative materials for those of you who are in dire straights about finding either the grippers or cable clamps.
"In an honest Service there is thin Commons, low Wages, and hard labour; in this (Piracy), Plenty and Society, Pleasure and Ease, Liberty and Power; and who would not balance Creditor on this side when all the Hazard that is run for it, at worst, is only a sour Look or two at choaking. No, A merry Life and a short one, shall be my Motto."--Bartholomew Roberts