Just for fun, how many spare hose clamps do you have onboard?

[Dougcole]

I was doing some cleaning/organizing today after finishing a small plumbing project, and realized I may have a problem. I always buy a few more clamps than I think I will need when doing a project and put the extras in my spares box. If I replace a clamp, unless the old one is obviously bad I save it too....you never know when you might need it right?

My spare clamp box is overflowing. Oddly, I am usually a minimalist type and don't do this with anything else. Well, except fishing tackle, but that's different.

Am I alone in this affliction?

 

[slowgoesit]

I have well over 100, in spares, of differing sizes, but am slowly replacing the old style screw hose clamps with T-bolt hose clamps!

 

[SteveK]

Good one. I too need 1 or 2 and buy 10. Still often do not have the right size, but two one inch ones joined are almost a 2 inch hose clamp.

 

[Dougcole]

Good one. I too need 1 or 2 and buy 10. Still often do not have the right size, but two one inch ones joined are almost a 2 inch hose clamp.

Yeah, I have done that too. You would think with how many of them I have that Magivering them would never be needed, but somehow...

 

[Comodave]

I carry a box of them separated by size. Also a box of electrical connectors, a box of nuts and bolts, a box of sheet metal screws, a box of shrink tube and a couple of boxes of miscellaneous stuff.

 

[tiltrider1]

If you buy bags of 25 off of Amazon they are very inexpensive. 25 of each 3/4, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 4, and 6 adds up very quickly.

 

[BDofMSP]

One full engine's worth, plus a number of extras. Seaboard Marine sells full sets so I bought one. I just replaced all hoses last winter and used the set, so I bought a replacement already. It's good to know that in an urgent situation I know for sure the right one is in that bag.

 

[Mainship Pilot]

In a pinch, the majority of hoses should have 2 clamps on them anyway, if you need a spare, pull one off the double clamped hose to get you to the next spot where you can acquire more clamps.

 

[luna]

I likely have 50, including 6" 8" and 12" T bolts for the exhaust tubing's connections.
I have no box of spares.
All spare clamps are mounted snugly on the hose that they are intended to clamp. It's not uncommon to find 3 or 4 clamps on the most accessible end of any particular size of hose.

 

[O C Diver]

When I was cruising, every winter I would inventory my tools and spares. My guess is around 100 clamps with 4 of each size. I bought them in boxes of 10, and kept the rest at home. Generally a box of ten was equivalent to buying 3 or 4 at the regular price.

Every 3 years I would replace all the batteries in things like multi meters and infrared temperature gun. Hate grabbing a tool with an odd ball dead battery.

Ted

 

[Comodave]

Actually I have 10 boxes of small parts, hose clamps, shrink tube, cushion clamps, large electrical connectors (2), electrical connectors, nuts and bolts, sheet metal screws and snaps (2).

 

[Bmarler]

My hose clamp collection is truly out of control. They’re in gallon zip lock bags that are bulging and threatening to burst. I can’t put a finger on how this happened…

 

[psneeld]

Here is a good tutorial on hose clamps...there is a part I that explains more.

It discusses when 1 or 2 clamps are critical and when 2 should not be used.

Lots of subjects that are discussed amongst boaters but not always clearly understood or advised.

Hose Clamps Part II: Installation and Use | Steve D'Antonio Marine Consulting

 

[rslifkin]

slowly replacing the old style screw hose clamps with T-bolt hose clamps!

Be careful where you use those. They're great as exhaust clamps and for some other things, but they're typically wider than a standard hose clamp, so you may only be able to fit 1 on a fitting that could fit 2 regular clamps. And in some cases the bolt on the t-bolt clamp gets into something or is very easy to hurt yourself with.

A few things on my boat had t-bolt clamps when I got it where it had these issues, so I've switched some of those things back to good quality regular clamps.