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West Marine has released a new, improved version of the safety tethers it voluntarily recalled last summer. As we reported in the August 2010 issue, West Marine recalled its model 9553512 (single) and 9553504 (double) safety tethers—which featured Kong hooks on the boat end and snap shackles on the user end—over concerns about the durability of the split ring connecting the snap shackle’s release pin and the lanyard.
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While the company had not had any customer claims regarding the tether, their safety testing found that under several hundred pounds of load, the increased force required to open the snap shackle could cause the split ring to deform; if the ring detached from the shackle, it would be impossible for a user to open the shackle. (Note: The most load the average person could apply using a finger pull is about 60 pounds.)
The new, improved West Marine tethers have heavier-gauge split rings that are welded closed. According to the company, these changes solved the issue of the split rings deforming under load.
The new tethers have different model numbers (11878709 for the single tether and 11878691 for the double) and look different than the recalled tethers. The lanyard attached to the split ring on the snap shackle is white on the new tethers; the recalled tethers had black lanyards with rubberized triangle grips.
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All of the recalled tethers have been removed from retail outlets, according to West Marine Assistant Vice President of Merchandising Kevin Osborn. Customers who still have a recalled tether (black shackle lanyard) can return it to a West Marine store for an upgrade.
For more information, visit West Marine’s website, www.westmarine.com.
West Marine’s tethers have been PS top picks in several past tests (January 2007, May 2009, September 2009, and December 1999). We prefer the quick-release snap shackle at the harness end of a tether, but it’s obvious that not all of those on the market are of the same construction quality.
