Quite often when working on boats I see odd fitting hoses. It does not take much to figure out why. Many male hose adapters are not built or designed for marine applications where we generally use two clamps for below waterline applications as a best practice.


When the male adapter is too short tightening the second hose clamp can actually distort the hose, create potential for a rip or tear and it can actually work against the hose adapter trying to "pinch" the hose off the end.


If the first clamp were to fail, as they do, the second clamp could potentially have enough pressure on it to help the hose fall off the hose adapter.


This nylon hose adapter is far to short to accept two hose clamps. Always measure the exposed barb surface before installing two hose clamps.


MYTH: "The surveyor flagged our boat for not having two hose clamps for a below water line seacock? The insurance company is now insisting we install two hose clamps based on ABYC standards."


TRUTH: Two hose clamps are not required for seacocks under the ABYC standards. Double hose clamps are required for fuel fills, both gasoline & diesel, and for exhaust hose but not for seacocks.


BEST PRACTICE: It is a widely accepted best practice to use two hose clamps for all below waterline connections but not an ABYC requirement. With the sheer number of failed hose clamps I come across this probably should be a "requirement" but it's not. If your surveyors flags you for single hose clamps they are simply wrong based on standards but correct based on best practices.