fume detector

[torcano]

I just had my soon-to-own 2004 Sea Ray Sundancer surveyed. The boat has a fire supression system but no fume dectector system. My surveyor suggested that I install one. Does anyone have any experience with these systems? How much to retrofit? Any good aftermarket brands or should I use original Sea Ray systems? Thanks.

 

[arks]

Re: fume detector

Most likely the Sea Ray detector is just an off-the-shelf model with their name applied. Expect to pay double or triple compared to the same detector from a marine store or online.
FWIW, I bought a Marine Technologies Fume Detector model SA1-XL about 2 years ago. I did the installation myself in about 2 hours; it was easy and I've never had a false signal. I think I paid about $80 for it online. Here's an image of the head unit:

 

[torcano]

Re: fume detector

Thanks. $80 seems like a reasonable investment for a little extra security. Does it come with installation instructions? Where's the best place to splice into the power source?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: fume detector

best place for power source is the fuse or breaker block.

 

[arks]

Re: fume detector

Thanks. $80 seems like a reasonable investment for a little extra security. Does it come with installation instructions? Where's the best place to splice into the power source?

Yes it does come with detailed instructions. If you can install a radio then you'd be OK with this. In my case, I was replacing an old fume detector and used the existing 12V source, but as tashasdaddy said, best place is to bring a hot wire directly from a breaker and a ground from the main buss. It should be on a circuit that's always "on" when you're aboard. Others might disagree, but IMO it's not necessary to leave a fume detector on when you're not there. My marina has had a couple cases of them sounding false alarms for days with nobody (including me) willing to board a strange boat to reset it.

 

[torcano]

Re: fume detector

It looks like I have a upcoming morning project. Thanks. BTW, inflation has raised the price to $99. It still seems like a good investment.
Last summer I was 2 miles off shore in my friend's boat. We shut off the engine and began drifting in the hopes of catching some fish. Instead of fresh sea air, there was the unmistakable smell of gasoline. When we looked in the bilge, a gasoline water mixture was sloushing around. A leaking gas tank was the culprit. The boat was only 5 years old and it had a plastic tank. I'd rather know about leaking fuel tanks before venturing out 2 miles off shore in the North Atlantic. I suppose it is not a bad idea to visually check out the bilge before heading out to sea as well.

 

[arks]

Re: fume detector

I suppose it is not a bad idea to visually check out the bilge before heading out to sea as well.

Um, yeah. Put it on your pre-launch checklist. You've got one, right?
I ALWAYS open up the hatches before firing my engines and do a visual inspection as well as the old "sniff test". My gas tanks are 24 years old and aluminium, so I'm particularly careful with them. That's the reason I put in the new fume detector.....