Boat Hose Clamps

More on Boat Hose Clamps

Hose clamps for boats need to be of good quality. They need to be for Marine use. There are many hose clamp manufactures and there products range from very good to poor. You may not have a choice in the brand you can get at any one store. Prices also have a large range. Depending on what and where the clamp will go may help you decide what you want to spend on the clamp. No matter what, get the best clamp you can afford. Stay away from the ultra-cheap ones. They usually strip out when you try to tighten them.

There are two basic types of clamps: Worm Drive and T-bolt. The worm drive is a clamp that has a screw that the threads of the screw fit in to slots in the band of the clamp. Tuning the screw tightens the clamp. A T-bolt clamp has a bolt and nut that fits between both sides of the strap and when the bolt and nut are tightened it pulls the clamp together. T-bolts are usually stronger and more expensive.

A marine hose clamp should be made of 304 stainless or better. Try to get 316 stainless clamps. Look for 316SS marking on the band.  A general purpose, non-marine clamp is usually grades 430 and 440. 

A high price clamp may not be a great value and some cheap clamps are very good. The clamps from Ideal / Tridon for example, make good inexpensive (about $ 2.00) clamps and they have good corrosion resistance. AWAB and ABA make good quality general purpose clamps with about a $5.00 price. Shield make high quality T-bolt clamps that sell for about $15.00. 

If you are getting a hose clamp to use on your boat, it should be a Marine Grade Clamp. They last much longer and are worth the extra cost.