A RIB driver has praised the effectiveness of the Barton ClamSealT when used on his 7.5m Ribtec safety boat during the Bursledon regatta. Given the device as a birthday present, Andrew kept it on his boat, convinced he would never really need it. During the Optimist racing, for which the RIB was a main safety boat, he came alongside the pontoon puncturing the main collar of the boat on a protruding piece of metal. The boat needed repairing instantly to enable the team to head back out to take up their position.

There was only one way to keep the boat in action, Andrew reached for the ClamSealT, "The worst moment of using it was when I had to take a knife to the tear to make it a bit larger so I could engage the ClamSealT through the hole! But the incision needed was only minor and it was then a simple matter to screw the two halves together and re-inflate the tube. It took minutes and we were soon heading back out to the racing."

The repair was so effective that Andrew has still not bothered to effect a permanent repair even after three months. "The ClamSealT is still doing a perfect job" he said "and we have not had to put any air in the tube since! This is despite the boat getting regular and very heavy use and the fact that the position of the hole means that the ClamSealT is regularly knocked against other boats and pontoons."

The ClamSealT has now become a permanent part of the safety kit on many RIBS around the world and is continuing to amaze those who have used them, on the effectiveness of this simple low cost solution to an otherwise complicated problem.

For further information about the legendary ClamSealT, please visit the Plastimo stand N1207 at London Boat Show.