I have seen many warnings about hose clamps

[Ross]

on this and other forums. I personally have never seen a hose clamp fail but I am satisfied that they can and do. For this reason I always give all of the hose connections a bit of a look several times a year. When I have seen hose failures it has always been just off the barb and the hose is cracked. The hose usually is the point of failure and removing a hose from the barb is often times impossible without cutting. A loose clamp will allow a drip but not a flood I think unless the hose is carrying considerable pressure.Am I mistaken in these obsevations?

 

[Ross]

on this and other forums. I personally have never seen a hose clamp fail but I am satisfied that they can and do. For this reason I always give all of the hose connections a bit of a look several times a year. When I have seen hose failures it has always been just off the barb and the hose is cracked. The hose usually is the point of failure and removing a hose from the barb is often times impossible without cutting. A loose clamp will allow a drip but not a flood I think unless the hose is carrying considerable pressure.Am I mistaken in these obsevations?

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

good point Ross

It's always a good idea to include hose and clamp inspection in routine maintenance. The only clamp failure I ever experienced was insidious - on the stuffing box hose where there are four clamps. They all appeared fine from a cursory inspection until I stuck my hand underneath where I luckily found they were all corroded through as a result of intermittent exposure to salt water leaking from the stuffing box. Never would have found it by just looking as I was always under the impression SS good quality clamps (which they were) don't corrode.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

good point Ross

It's always a good idea to include hose and clamp inspection in routine maintenance. The only clamp failure I ever experienced was insidious - on the stuffing box hose where there are four clamps. They all appeared fine from a cursory inspection until I stuck my hand underneath where I luckily found they were all corroded through as a result of intermittent exposure to salt water leaking from the stuffing box. Never would have found it by just looking as I was always under the impression SS good quality clamps (which they were) don't corrode.

 

[Capt Ron;-)]

Be kind to Ross

Dear Ross, This like many of your posts is a bit narrow and short sighted.I have known of at least one 32' Islander sunk because of failed hoseclamps. I have heard of more. A blige pump will not keep up with the flow of the boot coming off...one clamp fails, pressure...another, and another...boot comes off from pressure, and without a blige alarm all goes to hell, and the yacht goes down.Sure, you can work out any scenerio that would save the yacht, two back up bilge pumps @ 1500 GPH, shore power, batter charger et al...but is this a smart thing to tell people? Don't worry she'll be right mate, have anotehr brew.This is NOT theoretical! Hose Clamps (pretty cheap insurance when you think on it) should be changed yearly. Unless one has the side bolt tighten ones,(ferget they're name-I use them) slightly more expensive (no one buys them) , and you can plainly SEE the threads of the bolt-tighening-screw. This is the part that commonly fails, in fact some manufacturers were using a lower grade of stainless and the screws would rust out within months on vessels that bought them.You did a good job on your boat, lots of work too, but how many boats have you owned? Have you sailed outside that bay you are in?I have seen, operated thousands of sailboats, and power vessels and this is an achilles heel, a very weak spot if not the weakest for sailboats with shaft; dripless are still subject to failure of the hose-clamps on the boot.Some of your posts are helpful, I do not let people off on a safety issue because I have not seen it fail or because it is a hassle to change out the part.Be careful what you advise, you post much here, and because of this folks kinda automatically think you an 'expert' you are not.I certainly do not want to offend, I will call it the way I see it and if it calls for honesty and straight talk to get folks to take this seriously then so be it.

 

[Capt Ron;-)]

Be kind to Ross

Dear Ross, This like many of your posts is a bit narrow and short sighted.I have known of at least one 32' Islander sunk because of failed hoseclamps. I have heard of more. A blige pump will not keep up with the flow of the boot coming off...one clamp fails, pressure...another, and another...boot comes off from pressure, and without a blige alarm all goes to hell, and the yacht goes down.Sure, you can work out any scenerio that would save the yacht, two back up bilge pumps @ 1500 GPH, shore power, batter charger et al...but is this a smart thing to tell people? Don't worry she'll be right mate, have anotehr brew.This is NOT theoretical! Hose Clamps (pretty cheap insurance when you think on it) should be changed yearly. Unless one has the side bolt tighten ones,(ferget they're name-I use them) slightly more expensive (no one buys them) , and you can plainly SEE the threads of the bolt-tighening-screw. This is the part that commonly fails, in fact some manufacturers were using a lower grade of stainless and the screws would rust out within months on vessels that bought them.You did a good job on your boat, lots of work too, but how many boats have you owned? Have you sailed outside that bay you are in?I have seen, operated thousands of sailboats, and power vessels and this is an achilles heel, a very weak spot if not the weakest for sailboats with shaft; dripless are still subject to failure of the hose-clamps on the boot.Some of your posts are helpful, I do not let people off on a safety issue because I have not seen it fail or because it is a hassle to change out the part.Be careful what you advise, you post much here, and because of this folks kinda automatically think you an 'expert' you are not.I certainly do not want to offend, I will call it the way I see it and if it calls for honesty and straight talk to get folks to take this seriously then so be it.

 

[jackhartjr]

Capt' Ron...

...instead of attacking Ross...why didn't you just give your opinion?I thinks Ross's work, expertise and advice on this forum speakes for itself.You will not win a pissing contest this way!Happy New Year to All..especially Captain Ron...looks like someone already pissed in your cornflakes. Sorry bout that!Jack

 

[jackhartjr]

Capt' Ron...

...instead of attacking Ross...why didn't you just give your opinion?I thinks Ross's work, expertise and advice on this forum speakes for itself.You will not win a pissing contest this way!Happy New Year to All..especially Captain Ron...looks like someone already pissed in your cornflakes. Sorry bout that!Jack

 

[Ross]

Cap't Ron, I am not sure what it is about my post

that incites your response. I stated that I am satisfied that failures do occur and that under some circumstances these failures can be serious. The service that hose clamps give in industry and in automotive service attest to their reliability. Even in chemical processing plants hose clamp failure is not a major cause of accidents. Rather than claiming hearsay knowledge of sinking's from failed hose clamps please demonstrate for us the details of how and where these events have taken place. I checked for your profile and although you are registered you seem to have not yet seen fit to provide a brief biographical sketch of yourself. I too have seen thousands of sail and powerboats and have been aboard a few of them. I have also worked as a maintenance man in industry and in the housing industry. I have small regard for people who find fault in my questions but refuse to provide any answers to those questions.Have a wonderful new year.Ross

 

[Ross]

Cap't Ron, I am not sure what it is about my post

that incites your response. I stated that I am satisfied that failures do occur and that under some circumstances these failures can be serious. The service that hose clamps give in industry and in automotive service attest to their reliability. Even in chemical processing plants hose clamp failure is not a major cause of accidents. Rather than claiming hearsay knowledge of sinking's from failed hose clamps please demonstrate for us the details of how and where these events have taken place. I checked for your profile and although you are registered you seem to have not yet seen fit to provide a brief biographical sketch of yourself. I too have seen thousands of sail and powerboats and have been aboard a few of them. I have also worked as a maintenance man in industry and in the housing industry. I have small regard for people who find fault in my questions but refuse to provide any answers to those questions.Have a wonderful new year.Ross

 

[Maine Sail]

Using better

To give myself more peace of mind switched over long ago to AWAB Smooth Band hose clamps (link below). While they are still "hose clamps", and do require frequent inspection, these hose clamps are far more robust in their design than the standard IDEAL clamps.I have experienced failed hose clamps on my own boats and it's why you should ALWAYS have two hose clamps for any fitting below the waterline or any fitting that may become below the waterline due to sailing or heeling...Ron please do us a favor & take a nap then try getting up on the right side of the bed. There is NOTHING in Ross' post that should have set you off like that! Let's try and keep this place civil. If you have a personal beef with Ross perhaps you two can exchange emails and "hug it out" off line...!AWAB Hose Clamps:http://www.awabllc.com/

 

[Maine Sail]

Using better

To give myself more peace of mind switched over long ago to AWAB Smooth Band hose clamps (link below). While they are still "hose clamps", and do require frequent inspection, these hose clamps are far more robust in their design than the standard IDEAL clamps.I have experienced failed hose clamps on my own boats and it's why you should ALWAYS have two hose clamps for any fitting below the waterline or any fitting that may become below the waterline due to sailing or heeling...Ron please do us a favor & take a nap then try getting up on the right side of the bed. There is NOTHING in Ross' post that should have set you off like that! Let's try and keep this place civil. If you have a personal beef with Ross perhaps you two can exchange emails and "hug it out" off line...!AWAB Hose Clamps:http://www.awabllc.com/

 

[Ross]

Maine sail, I have seen that style hose clamp on rare occasions

and thought that they would have several advantages including a continous bearing surface on the hose. Now I know where to find them. Thanks.

 

[Ross]

Maine sail, I have seen that style hose clamp on rare occasions

and thought that they would have several advantages including a continous bearing surface on the hose. Now I know where to find them. Thanks.

 

[Ken Honeycutt]

Seems like the biggest problem

Is whenever I take the darn things off for maintenance (winterizing,etc.) then end up either stripping the threads due to overtightening or getting the bands sideways trying to re-install. Now I just keep about a dozen or so spares on hand. Bottom line is it isn't too hard to tell when one is installed wrong. Biggest problem is when installing a hose or something, getting distracted and forgetting to re-tighten properly. Always pays to re-check every fitting.

 

[Ken Honeycutt]

Seems like the biggest problem

Is whenever I take the darn things off for maintenance (winterizing,etc.) then end up either stripping the threads due to overtightening or getting the bands sideways trying to re-install. Now I just keep about a dozen or so spares on hand. Bottom line is it isn't too hard to tell when one is installed wrong. Biggest problem is when installing a hose or something, getting distracted and forgetting to re-tighten properly. Always pays to re-check every fitting.

 

[Maine Sail]

Jamestown..

Jamestown distributors and Hamilton Marine both stock them. It's all I buy now and not just for below the waterline.As I've said over the years I've had numerous clamps fail just not an AWAB..... yet.......

 

[Maine Sail]

Jamestown..

Jamestown distributors and Hamilton Marine both stock them. It's all I buy now and not just for below the waterline.As I've said over the years I've had numerous clamps fail just not an AWAB..... yet.......

 

[Rick9619]

Ross

Nice post. Not sure what Capt Ron meant by his post, but I for one liked yours. It reminded me that I should make and complete some sort of annual checklist of things that I dont typically check on the boat because they are not on my regular maintenance schedule. I dont have 25 years of sailing experience but I do have that much flying airplanes. And in my travels I usually am not too impressed with the pilot who simply must tell me how good he or she is instead of just letting their flying do the talking.Happy new year and keep us thinking!

 

[Rick9619]

Ross

Nice post. Not sure what Capt Ron meant by his post, but I for one liked yours. It reminded me that I should make and complete some sort of annual checklist of things that I dont typically check on the boat because they are not on my regular maintenance schedule. I dont have 25 years of sailing experience but I do have that much flying airplanes. And in my travels I usually am not too impressed with the pilot who simply must tell me how good he or she is instead of just letting their flying do the talking.Happy new year and keep us thinking!