Good Reason To Look At Stuff

[Rick D]

Recently, I had occasion to check & clean the engine ground connection. As I was accessing it, I looked around at the other stuff in the vicinity and found a broken hose clamp while I was testing tightness. This one was on the output of the raw water pump heading to the vacuum break. It had probably been broken for a while and I was wondering why the engine mount under it was rusty. Once long ago, a boss used to subscribe to the theory of 'management by wandering around' and sometimes that's a good boat maintenance maxim too.

 

[Ross]

One of the reasons firemen wash their trucks everyday is so that they thoroughly inspect every inch of the system.

 

[BillyK]

There's your reason for 2 clamps on every hose below the waterline!!!

 

[JK_Boston_Catalina310]

There's your reason for 2 clamps on every hose below the waterline!!!

Be careful when double clamping. You can create more of a problem if you do it incorrectly. As usual, MaineSail has a tutorial (http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/double_hose_clamps).

Also, and as MaineSail discusses, this is a good reason why you should use the AWAB style rather than the perforated clamps. I have transitioned all of my thru-hull connectors to the AWAB and have been using up my perforated stainless steel clamps up in other places that are not below the waterline.

Fair winds,

Jesse

 

[js_jakey]

Double clamping is a myth. Think about it, if one clamp has failed, what's to stop another one right next to it in the same environment from doing the exact same thing? The nonperforated (AWAB) clamps are highly recommended but be careful, overtightening will gall the threads and destroy the clamp. A useful trick is to apply a little Tef-Gel or silicone grease to the threads to prevent galling. On anything over 1 inch I prefer to use a "t-bar" type clamp. When purchasing the t-bar, be sure the bolt and inserts are stainless steel and agian Tef-Gel the threads.

Jeff

 

[Jackdaw]

Double clamping is a myth. Think about it, if one clamp has failed, what's to stop another one right next to it in the same environment from doing the exact same thing?
Jeff

Are you KIDDING me?? You must have slept through all your engineering classes. Statistics too.

If you want to catch up with the class, start here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redundancy_(engineering))

 

[anchorclanker]

Fail at the same time? That is virtually impossible unless something struck the area and damaged both clamps simultaneously. In addition, two clamps offer much greater holding strength over a single, allowing the joint to withstand much greater pressure before pushing the hose off.

That failed clamp looks corroded, likely it was not stainless, or not very good stainless.

 

[anchorclanker]

I never took an engineering course, but I read the books. Actually, I learned it the hard way on my own at 15 working on a buddies car. A single clamp on a transmission cooler line doesnt work very well, or at all. Two work perfectly.

My Uncle worked on the Apollo program in the early 60's. Man, talk about redundancy. They had a back up for the back up. Well, there was that issue with the carbon cannisters, but hey.

 

[Rick D]

Clamp

That failed clamp looks corroded, likely it was not stainless, or not very good stainless.

FYI :the clamp is factory Yanmar. The break shows some rust. There is no rust on the screw or in any other area. BTW, there is no room for a double clamp at that location. I replaced it with a non-perforated clamp.

 

[Stu Jackson]

We call it "Look (inspect) your engine while it's running" on our "Critical Upgrades" topic. It's, uhm, well, critical. I found a broken alternator bracket two weeks ago (the "new" style bracket, which I installed in 1999! - see jibes's post just earlier this week).

Boats are unlike cars - seems they have a tad more things that WILL fail unless you LOOK at them.

Out of sight should NOT be out of mind (although some say I am!).

 

[Sailvayu]

As a surveyor I find this stuff all the time. The other day I did an insurance survey and found the 2 main nuts on the front motor mounts were missing. The owner had no clue the only thing holding the front of the motor in place was its own weight. Everyone should make a habit of inspecting these things on a regular basis, maybe seatow would not be so busy! Of course it is job security for me But really everyone should look around their engine compartment at least once a month and use a flashlight.

 

[Ross]

When I check the oil I also check the engine for oil where it shouldn't be. I wipe down the entire engine and in the process touch almost every square inch of the system. The damn thing is worth 10,000 dollars. it takes several months to make that much money it only takes a few minutes to make certain that it is still in good condition and the way that it should be.

 

[weinie]

Two is one. One is none.

 

[Stu Jackson]

I was cleaning my transom this afternoon. So, I got a chance, while having a Murphy's stout after that "work", to read the MSD/instruction manual for the SIMPLE GREEN I'd originally used to clean the transom. You know, this generation's version of boat soap.

So, in answer to many questions like: "What degreaser do you use to clean your engine?", I can only reply: "Ross when he comes over to sail with us and cleans the engine before he leaves, or Simple Green."

 

[Benny17441]

Been sailing a long time and have never found two broken hose clamps during the same inspection. I gotta say that double clamping is good enough for me. I never replace both clamps at the same time just to my way of thinking bettering the odds that one will break way before the other. I try to inspect them twice a year.