Clamps and hoses

[whoover]

I'm in the middle of changing hose gear clamps to t bolt. Some places do not have enough space for two t bolt clamps. Is it allowable to use a gear clamp as a second clamp? Also what is the preferred hose to use for air conditioner water lines, above and below the water line?

Thanks
Walt Hoover

[Glory]

The idea of two clamps is insurance, just in case one fails. The bolt type, T clamps I am guessing, you should be careful there is a lot of leverage available to crunch or crack something while tightening.

Just my $.02

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

I'm in the middle of changing hose gear clamps to t bolt. Some places do not have enough space for two t bolt clamps. Is it allowable to use a gear clamp as a second clamp? Also what is the preferred hose to use for air conditioner water lines, above and below the water line?

Thanks
Walt Hoover

Mr. Hoover,

I think you back up the t-bolt with any quality clamp without penalty. As I recall, my hose shop carries some that are, more or less, the same width as gear clamps.

I use wet exhaust hose (most often with wire) for all underwater applications. It can be a little harder to work with, but the peace of mind (as you say) is worth it. I use the reinforced clear above the waterline for the HVAC condensers. I don't leave my units on when I leave the boat for home. I know someone who does, or did, and one of his lines blew giving the ER a weeks' long saltwater rinse job. What I don't know is what blew; he doesn't like to bring up the subject. Probably a clamp rusted thru as the pressure is negligible. Even though the above the waterline lines are ...well...above the waterline, I double clamp. Cheap insurance. It's amazing how inexpensively good clamps can had an industrial supply house.

Can't avoid gilding the lilly and advising to coat all clamps everywhere with a protective film. Clamps seem to last forever when protected from salt.

[jmooney]

I only have t-bolt clamps on the exhaust system and intake pipe hoses. I think using a good grade of clamp (ABA) and double clamping is sufficient on most hoses. I use a solid white air conditioning hose on all the a/c units. I also never leave a/c on when we leave the boat. I work to keep the bilges dry ,so there is not a smell in the boat when we return. I did have a bronze ac pump develop a hole one day , this filled the pump compartment with water ( drains were clogged) and ruined both pumps . This was just after we bought the boat. I learned about cleaning clogged drains. I also got March pumps, magnetic drives (no seals to fail) nylon housings ,and ceramic impellers. Both have been running since 2003 and here in Miami they run a lot. Also keep checking the T-bolt clamps are on the exhaust , they seem to loosen. I use Trident wire reinforced hoses below the water line.

[Pascal]

T Clamps are a must on large exhaust hoses but for anything else quality solid band gear clamps are fine. They don’t fail like perforated clamps.

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

Also keep checking the T-bolt clamps are on the exhaust , they seem to loosen. I use Trident wire reinforced hoses below the water line.

Possible they are loosening. Also possible you are compressing the fiberglass tubes. In my experience, once you get a good seal on those they tend to stay stuck.

[Pascal]

If using T clamps on fiberglass exhaust pipes you really need SS sleeves inside the glass tubes.

When I redid my exhausts during the repower, we installed sleeves at every hose to fiberglass connection. Not cheap but no worries. I also had it done on the boat i run after the cat technician cracked the fiberglass replacing the 14” silicon hose between the risers and the fiberglass.

[Boatsb]

Silicon hose is best with smooth clamps. I buy AWAB clamps all the time.

They have a swedish made 316 that's top of the line.

T bolt clamps often are over tightened. That's why crush sleeves are needed.

[whoover]

Thanks for the ideas. There will be crush sleeves going in the exhaust, I noticed the starboard tube looked out of shape when I took the hose off. I see I will be ordering a bunch of the white air conditioner hose for that job.

Thanks
Walt Hoover

[jmooney]

Good thinking on the over tightening, one of my tubes has been over tighten, it leaks slightly. I plan to replace the tube and put sleeves in the end of the tube. Does anyone know if I can just install the sleeves? Would this be water tight?