Comments on: PS Reader’s Letter Sparks West Marine Tether Recall http://insidepracticalsailor.com/ps-readers-letter-sparks-west-marine-tether-recall/ An inside look at Practical Sailor magazine Fri, 21 Jan 2011 14:22:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Mike Buratynsky http://insidepracticalsailor.com/ps-readers-letter-sparks-west-marine-tether-recall/comment-page-1/#comment-145 Mike Buratynsky Tue, 19 Oct 2010 05:46:58 +0000 http://insidepracticalsailor.com/?p=667#comment-145 I purchased 2 Kong double elasticized safety tethers from Defender which look identrical to the WM version except for some colour changes. We have used these during our numerous long passages from the US East coast to Bora Bora French Polynesia. I noticed the rings being elongated while using these tethers on many of my watches. This was initially disconcerting but not the worst of the bad news. I then began to notice that the spring within the snap shackle was weakening to the point that it started to unintentionally come undone. This malfunction gives the tether a failing mark to its primary function. So everyone out there worrying about drowning because your being dragged alongside your boat, not an issue when your not attached in the first place! I disassembled the tether to find that the small coil compression spring crumbled in my hand. My guess is that the rings were made with an inferior stainless steel and have corroded with the salt water. If anyone has been sailing in the South Pacific they will know that this kind of equipment is just not available around here. To continue our voyage I've attached a Wichard snap shackle to the Kong shackle and lockwired the Kong shackle shut. The spiral split ring on the Wichard shackle seems to be welded together. I found this thread since I was looking to contact the manufacture for a replacement coil spring, Any new information out there? The tag says Kong Italy. I just can't afford to get 2 new tethers sent out here. I purchased 2 Kong double elasticized safety tethers from Defender which look identrical to the WM version except for some colour changes. We have used these during our numerous long passages from the US East coast to Bora Bora French Polynesia. I noticed the rings being elongated while using these tethers on many of my watches. This was initially disconcerting but not the worst of the bad news. I then began to notice that the spring within the snap shackle was weakening to the point that it started to unintentionally come undone. This malfunction gives the tether a failing mark to its primary function. So everyone out there worrying about drowning because your being dragged alongside your boat, not an issue when your not attached in the first place!

I disassembled the tether to find that the small coil compression spring crumbled in my hand. My guess is that the rings were made with an inferior stainless steel and have corroded with the salt water.

If anyone has been sailing in the South Pacific they will know that this kind of equipment is just not available around here. To continue our voyage I’ve attached a Wichard snap shackle to the Kong shackle and lockwired the Kong shackle shut. The spiral split ring on the Wichard shackle seems to be welded together.

I found this thread since I was looking to contact the manufacture for a replacement coil spring, Any new information out there? The tag says Kong Italy. I just can’t afford to get 2 new tethers sent out here.

]]> By: Darrell Nicholson http://insidepracticalsailor.com/ps-readers-letter-sparks-west-marine-tether-recall/comment-page-1/#comment-121 Darrell Nicholson Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:26:30 +0000 http://insidepracticalsailor.com/?p=667#comment-121 According to the spokesperson we spoke with, the newer West Marine tethers have a stronger split ring than older ones. (The cutoff date is not clear.) West is not issuing replacement parts for existing harnesses, and we don't yet know of a source for a replacement part. I apologize for any confusion. According to the spokesperson we spoke with, the newer West Marine tethers have a stronger split ring than older ones. (The cutoff date is not clear.) West is not issuing replacement parts for existing harnesses, and we don’t yet know of a source for a replacement part. I apologize for any confusion.

]]> By: Suzanne Gervais http://insidepracticalsailor.com/ps-readers-letter-sparks-west-marine-tether-recall/comment-page-1/#comment-117 Suzanne Gervais Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:58:43 +0000 http://insidepracticalsailor.com/?p=667#comment-117 Darrel, what is the improved split ring? where to get it? Suzanne Darrel,
what is the improved split ring? where to get it?
Suzanne

]]> By: Darrell Nicholson http://insidepracticalsailor.com/ps-readers-letter-sparks-west-marine-tether-recall/comment-page-1/#comment-112 Darrell Nicholson Fri, 16 Jul 2010 17:52:12 +0000 http://insidepracticalsailor.com/?p=667#comment-112 It is worth noting that West Marine is the only vendor of these types of tethers who has taken a pro-active stance on this matter. Although we raised concerns about the split ring design last year, West Marine's recall was based on what happened to a component (the split ring) on an old tether sold by another vendor. Mike Cunningham's tether was not a West Marine product and was not sold at one of its stores. We haven't seen or tested the replacement for the split ring, but we will be looking at this issue more closely in our next tether report. In our view, none of the current crop of tethers on the market are perfect, and West Marine appears to be acting in good faith to replace a questionable component in its older models, even though none of its own products have been implicated in a failure. I'd be interested in hearing more comments from readers who are having to deal with this issue. It is worth noting that West Marine is the only vendor of these types of tethers who has taken a pro-active stance on this matter.
Although we raised concerns about the split ring design last year, West Marine’s recall was based on what happened to a component (the split ring) on an old tether sold by another vendor. Mike Cunningham’s tether was not a West Marine product and was not sold at one of its stores.
We haven’t seen or tested the replacement for the split ring, but we will be looking at this issue more closely in our next tether report.
In our view, none of the current crop of tethers on the market are perfect, and West Marine appears to be acting in good faith to replace a questionable component in its older models, even though none of its own products have been implicated in a failure.
I’d be interested in hearing more comments from readers who are having to deal with this issue.

]]> By: Darrell Nicholson http://insidepracticalsailor.com/ps-readers-letter-sparks-west-marine-tether-recall/comment-page-1/#comment-111 Darrell Nicholson Fri, 16 Jul 2010 15:58:21 +0000 http://insidepracticalsailor.com/?p=667#comment-111 Peter. Have you tried it with the improved split-ring? Peter. Have you tried it with the improved split-ring?

]]> By: Peter Antypas http://insidepracticalsailor.com/ps-readers-letter-sparks-west-marine-tether-recall/comment-page-1/#comment-110 Peter Antypas Thu, 15 Jul 2010 22:04:09 +0000 http://insidepracticalsailor.com/?p=667#comment-110 West Marine has completely lost my trust and my business over this. They have seriously understated the importance of this recall and have refused to refund me so I can go buy something that works for me. They don't have a replacement in their stores either!!! This is no way to handle a recall. West Marine has completely lost my trust and my business over this. They have seriously understated the importance of this recall and have refused to refund me so I can go buy something that works for me. They don’t have a replacement in their stores either!!! This is no way to handle a recall.

]]> By: Darrell Nicholson http://insidepracticalsailor.com/ps-readers-letter-sparks-west-marine-tether-recall/comment-page-1/#comment-104 Darrell Nicholson Thu, 01 Jul 2010 17:26:49 +0000 http://insidepracticalsailor.com/?p=667#comment-104 Latest news suggests that Cunningham did not buy his tether from West Marine. As pointed out in this article and previous article this design is not found solely in West Marine harnesses. Latest news suggests that Cunningham did not buy his tether from West Marine. As pointed out in this article and previous article this design is not found solely in West Marine harnesses.

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