Safety Tip of the Month
Santa Barbara Power Squadron now has 3 Vessel Examiners to give Vessel Safety Checks. Minimize the loss of life, personal injury, property damage and environmental impact while maximizing the safe use and enjoyment of U.S. waterways by recreational boaters. The Vessel Safety Check process is one of “prevention through education, outreach and volunteer compliance” helping recreational boaters to gain a respect for the boating environment.
The VSC Program also helps to achieve voluntary compliance with federal and state recreational boating safety laws, particularly with regard to the carriage of safety equipment while raising boater awareness about safety and environmental issues through voluntary contact by a Vessel Examiner (VE). VE discussions with recreational boaters is designed to motivate maintaining and operating their boats in a safe manner, taking boating safety courses to increase their knowledge and skills in boating, and promoting safe boating.
The head of the Santa Barbara VSC program is Alvin Rice, AP. He may be contacted at 805 969-6819 for an inspection appointment. For a preview of the depth of this inspection go to More about VSC ( http://www.usps.org/national/vsc/ ) , or to Still More VSC Information ( http://safetyseal.net/ ). A list of the items required to safely, and legally, operate your boat may be found in What Does A VSC Inspector Check (http://safetyseal.net/what_is_vsc.asp) If your boat is not in the Santa Barbara area the VSC LOCATER will list the inspectors nearest your zip code. (http://safetyseal.net/getvsc/)
Don't know much about HOSE CLAMPS
The ideal hose clamp translates the torque applied to the worm gear by your
screwdriver into a clamping force that is equally distributed around the circumference
of the band. Applying torque is easy; equally distributing it isn't. Inexpensive
hose clamps have bands with stamped-out slots. The edges of these openings dig
in and drag against the hose material, then hold that part of the band in place.
The non-perforated part of the band moves easier, so it's pulled in. This results
in less clamping force under the slots and too much where the band is smooth.
Better clamps have embossed slots that do not go through the band, keeping the
underside smooth. The section of the band under the worm gear should be rounded
to match the arc of the band so it moves easily. If it's flat, clamping force
is reduced in that area. On average, all you need is 35 in-Lbs of torque at
the screw head. That's about as much torque as you can apply with a screwdriver
without grunting. Too much can lock up the screw and destroy the hose. Hoses
adjust to pressure and slowly give where it is applied. A 200-pound clamping
force can become 140 pounds after an hour, good reason to regularly check clamp
tightness. By David Seidman from the September Boating Magazine