Question: I’m confused. The photo I sent over shows two of the hoses near the engine on my boat. One of the hoses has the screw pieces on the clamps lined up nicely on one side of the hose.

Double hose clamps should be aligned with their screws on opposite sides of the hose, like those on the right.

Double hose clamps should be aligned with their screws on opposite sides of the hose, like those on the right.



The other hose has the screw mechanisms on opposite sides of the hose. The red arrows are pointing to what I’m talking about. What’s the right way to set these clamps up?

Answer: Excellent question. Although it probably looks neater with the screw mechanisms nicely in line on one side of the hose, the truth is, the preferred method is to have the screws 180 degrees opposite one another. The reasoning behind this is that sometimes the hose will “pucker” slightly under the screw on the clamp when it is tightened. Some slight leakage of whatever fluid the clamp is intending to seal could occur. By alternating the puckering possibilities at 180 degrees, a sort of labyrinth is created, making a more difficult path for any potential leakage to follow. The hose in the center of your photo is set up correctly. And don't forget to use high-quality, marine-grade hose clamps.

Written by: Ed Sherman
Ed Sherman is a regular contributor to boats.com, as well as to Professional Boatbuilder and Cruising World, where he previously was electronics editor. He also is the curriculum director for the American Boat and Yacht Council. Previously, Ed was chairman of the Marine Technology Department at the New England Institute of Technology. Ed’s blog posts appear courtesy of his website, EdsBoatTips.