Hoses and clamps.
Marcus, Don and all, As the years have passed and projects and hardware on my boat have gotten attention, I've religiously replaced almost all of the old Ideal style hose clamps with a more superior Swedish made variety. Years ago there were two Swedish companies making almost identical clamps for some reason. Finally one bought out the other (can't remember who) but kept the competitors brand name for more market exposure. The two names are AWAB and ABA. That might have changed since talking to the company rep years ago so either name clamp or just one might still be readily available at your local chandler or on line through West Marine, sadly not at their retail stores. Now here's the story. Why consider these clamps over an American made Ideal style automotive clamp? 1. ABA style clamps have fluted edges on their 316, 100% stainless straps to prevent cutting into the hose. 2. The pitch angle of the ABA's female threads are less radical than that of an Ideal, thereby preventing all tendency for the clamp to work its way loose from vibration over time. 3. Those same ABA threads are not cut entirely through the clamp strap either, they are just dimpled into the strap, again to prevent cutting of the hose beneath such as Ideal clamp threads tend to do. 4. The ABA screw and screw body are 100% 316 stainless, eliminating the oft times observed rust ball that can form in place of an Ideal automotive style screw over time. There's a price to pay for these clamps though, they're about twice the cost of Ideal style clamps but when added to the boat a few at a time, the hit ain't too bad. In talking to the ABA rep, he confided to me that they are so sure about the clamps staying put that for all intents, only one of their clamps is really needed on hose attachments per end below the water line, except for the mind set of needing to religiously double clamp with Ideal style clamps, so the ABA makers don't promote that feature in their advertising. Note to Ideal style clamp users: Periodically check the tension on your below the water line double clamps to assure they aren't vibrating loose. Go for it, Glyn Judson, E31 hull #55, Marina del Rey, CA.
