While researching an article I’m working on about TeamO lifejackets, I happened to click on this page on which TeamO are selling:
Kru Triple Hook Safety Tether for use with TeamO BackTow lifejackets
I was stunned.
In January of 2018 (7 years ago), after the death of a crew member on one of the Clipper Boats at least partially due to the failure of a hook that looks identical to the one Kru are using, the British Marine Accident Investigation Branch published a warning, because these hooks are prone to failure when loaded off axis.
Wait, it gets worse. A few months later AAC friend-in-the-comments Drew Fry did some testing of these Gibb-style hooks for Practical Sailor with damning results.
You can read a whole lot more about this problem, and others that Phyllis and I experienced personally with these hooks, in this article, which we have moved outside our paywall for two weeks.
We strongly recommend that owners with tethers aboard that use these hooks should immediately replace them and that TeamO should stop selling them.
It shouldn’t take an engineering degree to figure out that this is not a good design. The stuff we used mountain climbing over 50 years ago was far better than this, and it has steadily improved since. So it’s really surprising that companies that produce such dangerous items aren’t taken down.
Good point, but taken down by who? As far as I can see with the recent changes at Practical Sailor, we at AAC are all that’s left who have an interest in calling out bad gear or boats.
Thank you for pointing this out. We actually have the teamo life vest and mentioned tethers.
We have them now replaced them Kong tethers.
For a big part after reading this article (Although I was already a bit annoyed with them as they aren’t easy to unbuckle and tend to get stuck in the jackline.) But also based on your other articles to use a snap shackle at the vest side in order to be able to release a tether order load when dragging is actually becoming harmful. I recognize that this requires the person to be conscious and able to pull it. But it’s good to have that option and probably saver then a knife.
Testing at Spinlock has clearly shown that we won’t be able to release the tether under load using a snap shackle. If we want to be able to cut away, this is by far the best, and probably only practical solution (scroll down to Harness Release system): https://www.morganscloud.com/2024/12/05/spinlock-deckvest-6d-review/
Thanks John. I will reread the book (read it but some years ago). But it’s clear that I need to rethink the use of a snap shackle for releasing from the tether as Spinlock has tested it. It also shows that even a simple thought as “hey, that’s a nice hack. We could use that” needs some critical thinking and probably testing before putting it in practice. Thanks for all your input and effort of writing these books with your years of experience.
Thanks for pointing this out.
It shouldn’t take an engineering degree to figure out that this is not a good design. The stuff we used mountain climbing over 50 years ago was far better than this, and it has steadily improved since. So it’s really surprising that companies that produce such dangerous items aren’t taken down.
Hi George,
Good point, but taken down by who? As far as I can see with the recent changes at Practical Sailor, we at AAC are all that’s left who have an interest in calling out bad gear or boats.
Sadly, you are spot on
however, if CE certification worked, it would take car of it.
I have these tethers and they need replacing. Any suggestions please? (I am UK based).
Hi Clive,
We have a full set of tether recommendations here: https://www.morganscloud.com/2017/02/20/the-right-tethers-to-keep-us-aboard-part-1-a-mix/
That said, if you don’t want to make your own, those from Spinlock use the same clips we favour.
One other thought: I’m deep into an article on tether tension, so you might want to wait until we publish that next week.
Thanks.
Thank you for pointing this out. We actually have the teamo life vest and mentioned tethers.
We have them now replaced them Kong tethers.
For a big part after reading this article (Although I was already a bit annoyed with them as they aren’t easy to unbuckle and tend to get stuck in the jackline.) But also based on your other articles to use a snap shackle at the vest side in order to be able to release a tether order load when dragging is actually becoming harmful. I recognize that this requires the person to be conscious and able to pull it. But it’s good to have that option and probably saver then a knife.
Hi Maarten and Marga,
One other clarification. I do not use the snap shackle to allow release when dragging. Rather I use it to facilitate our continues connection system: https://www.morganscloud.com/2014/10/02/staying-aboardpart-iiiour-gear/
Testing at Spinlock has clearly shown that we won’t be able to release the tether under load using a snap shackle. If we want to be able to cut away, this is by far the best, and probably only practical solution (scroll down to Harness Release system): https://www.morganscloud.com/2024/12/05/spinlock-deckvest-6d-review/
I recommend that before you change anything you have a read through the entire book (only take an hour) not just rely on one or two chapters and tips to make your changes: https://www.morganscloud.com/2014/10/02/staying-aboardpart-iiiour-gear/
Thanks John. I will reread the book (read it but some years ago). But it’s clear that I need to rethink the use of a snap shackle for releasing from the tether as Spinlock has tested it. It also shows that even a simple thought as “hey, that’s a nice hack. We could use that” needs some critical thinking and probably testing before putting it in practice. Thanks for all your input and effort of writing these books with your years of experience.