Double Hose Clamps ?

[ErnieO]

The only reason to double clamp is the extra safety in case one fails. And I HAVE had a single clamped exhaust hose fail which promptly filled the bilge with hot salt water and the salon with steam. I just installed a new head and couldn't for the life of me figure out why I would need to double clamp a 3/4'" SUCTION hose. I agree with one poster and double clamp all my exhaust and fuel line fittings and single clamp everything else.

As for using KY Jelly or Vaseline to make the hose easier to slip over the barb, NO NO NO NO! Do NOT do this!!! Use a heat gun to make the hose pliable enough to slip over the fitting. If you HAVE to use something to get it done then use some RTV or Teflon paste as both of these will dry and help seal the hose whereas the slippery goop will just stay slippery and help the hose to slip off the fitting. I know because I did that at work once.

[delmarrey]

Actually K-Y is water soluable and dries up in a short period of time or rinses away when wet all the time. That's why I use the stuff on sewer and water lines. Never had a problem with it coming back off. Usually have to cut the hose to get it off!

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[chala]

It is possible to buy narrow band hose clamps or special purpose non metallic all-in-one hose tails who can be plugged with purpose made bung instead of dowels.

[Sonosailor]

Well, ErnieO, something to think about. But there is no way that the waste pipe is coming off. I couldn't get it off there at a truck pull.

[ErnieO]

LOL Sono! That's funny and I do hear ya. As for the KY, well I've never used it (not for plumbing anyway) so I wasn't aware that it was water soluble.

[patio]

ErnieO, depends on the plumbing, i supose?

[goingsoon]

Am fixing up a CT 41 to go cruising again, Have replaced all the through hulls and used polysulfide on the barbs first which acted as a lubricant to get the hoses on then double clamped as the surveyers make such a noise about it, try get that baby off!!! The white septic hose that is so hard to get on..... have tryed boiling water with little luck so in desperation used a propain torch and work gloves, slid right on.

[delmarrey]

Lets hope you didn't over heat the material, cristalizing the plastic, making it brittle. That could be a stinking mess at sea.

[Greg B]

I've always used dishwashing liquid. Makes cleanup easier and it helps to seal things up when it dries out. And you get that nice lemon fresh scent too!!!
Greg

[Sonosailor]

Well, I am an expert on sanitation hose now. To install a holding tank, I had to make 16 connections. I removed a square inch of skin between my thumb and forefinger until I realized that a steaming kettle, left under the pipe for a REALLY LONG TIME, makes the job easy. KY Jelly works better than anything else; and you have to watch the teflon spray. Many hose manufacturers write "No Petroleum Products" right on the hose. Still, double clamping those fittings seems stupid. As far as I am concerned, a single clamp is redundant, as they are so tight!

[Strygaldwir]

Hmmmm....

Double clamps for each engine room, bilge pump, and shower pump connection. I am up to 146 clamps so far (Oh, catamarans have TWO engines! Double everything!)! At about $5 each, that is $730 to redo all the clamps, in titanium. Ouch!

If I am using titanium clamps, do I really need to double clamp them? They are stronger than stainless and don't corrode! I think I'll compromise. Clean up the existing clamps that are serviceable, put on the titanium clamps as primary, and use the old stainless as a backup. Any opinions?

[GordMay]

Strygaldwir:
and I gotta ask where that handle comes from?
I think you are on the right track.
1. My original post indicated my opinion, that double-clamping is not always neccessary (or even desirable).
2. I think the Titanium clamps are a good idea, and not overpriced.
3. Attach a tapered soft-wood plug (cone) at each thru-hull fitting (the ultimate backup).
FWIW
Gord

[Strygaldwir]

Gord I have just received the new titanium clamps from Titan. They are wonderfully light and appear to be of extrordinary quality. I am have started replacing the clamps. I started with the bilge pump clamps and am now on the fuel lines and fittings. All the clamps that I have found on the boat were "total" stainless. I even did the magnet test. They appear to be of good quality, but none-the-less all of the have rust. Half of them it was just surface type rust and it clean off easily. On the other hand many of them broke when I removed them. I do have to say though, that none of them were "frozen"! The screws would turn in all cases.

The ones that were servicable, I soaked in Phosporic acid and that cleaned them up nicely. I am now using them as secondaries for the titanium clamps. Time will tell how the titanium holds up.

So thanks for the tip! Even if it did cost me major $$$!


The "correct" spelling is Strygalldwir. But you'll have to find some prince or something to tell you from what chaos it comes from.

Keith

[CruisingKitty]

When using two hose clamps, should they be aligned in the same direction or in opposite directions?

[David M]

Originally Posted by CruisingKitty

When using two hose clamps, should they be aligned in the same direction or in opposite directions?

I don't think it makes any difference.

What I don't do is leave the worm screw at the bottom where a drop of water could hang off it accelerating corrosion of these sometimes questionable worm screws. The screws themselves sometimes seem to have a higher iron content than the rest of the clamp. I have never been able to tell which are which...even when buying from a place like West Marine. Certainly never buy hose clamps from a home store, even if they say "stainless".