avoiding boat fires

[oops!]

just thought id share......

i was stoking the wood stove last night.....

i had a few mixing sticks with resin on them......

i threw them in the stove.......the fire was hot.....the resin area of the mixing sticks were aflame before they left my hand !

they didnt explode with the ferosity of a dry pine tree...but allmost !

it shocked me.......

made me think that a fire on board is somthing we (boaters) think about but the obligotory fire extingusher is just there so we can keep the cg off our tails.

ive got enough resin on my craft that if it ever caught fire....it would burn so fast my butt would get burnt by the time i jumped in the water.

please ....dont take the extinguisher forgranted.......in fact ...get two...!

class abc is the canadian standard....(couldnt find it in the us cg rules)

ill be mounting one just outside the engine compartment...and one just under the captains seat...big ones........

cheers
and boat safe
oops

 

[rndn]

Re: avoiding boat fires

That's a great point, because I know the only reason I have one is for the cg. Even with a aluminum boat, there is still plenty of wood, carpet, vinyl, and gas.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: avoiding boat fires

take a look : http://sports.webshots.com/album/558811194VpsxkF

and this:http://rides.webshots.com/album/271198675ZYLHNw

 

[oops!]

Re: avoiding boat fires

cryin shame......in pic # 5 of the first thread you can allmost see the flashover and thats a 70k boat !

and in the second thread....at a fuel dock????.....

lets be safe guys.

 

[amynbill]

Re: avoiding boat fires

All I know is if the boat catches on fire, the fire extinguishers are pretty much going to remain where they are because it will be everyone clearing off as soon as I see the flames.

Not worth the risk of fighting it, thats why I have insurance. And with 125% replacement cost, I can get a new boat again.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: avoiding boat fires

actually, most boat fires you don't get the warning of flames, they are usually gas fumes in the bilge, and all it does is go BOOM, and blow your kiester into the water. the extinguisher, is for small things, like a grease fire in the galley, or an alternator on and inboard, inboard/outboard, shorting out and heating up.

 

[External Combustion]

Re: avoiding boat fires

Bailing out of the boat is an option where you are close to the shore, hypothermia is not a problem, weather is cooperative, the proper life jackets are on everone aboard and there is no chance that the flames from fuel aboard will surround you before eveyone can swim away. Otherwise prompt action from a trained crew is your best bet.

A trained crew will insist on adequate fire extinguishers, not just the CG minimums. A trained crew will know when to turn the boat upwind or downwind and when to stop the engine. A trained crew while frightened, will not panic but will work as a team until the danger is passed.

Training pays, especially for captians.

 

[midsouthfire]

Re: avoiding boat fires

This is why I started a thread on automatic systems the other day. You can install (or have someone install) a fire system in your engine compartment that activates either manually or automatic. It isn't required by the CG, but would be smiled upon by your insurance agent. They don't detect an explosion, but activate with flame or when the fire reaches a specified temp.

 

[ebry710]

Re: avoiding boat fires

All I know is if the boat catches on fire, the fire extinguishers are pretty much going to remain where they are because it will be everyone clearing off as soon as I see the flames.D

It is probably because it really hasn't happen to me on a boat, but using a cutting torch it has. In those situations I usually don't think about the insurance just putting out the fire. Plus in the middle of a lake or in the ocean, the boat is more to me than a payout. Although if I survived a 125% payout would ease my pain.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: avoiding boat fires

And to all of us that do have extinghishers on board.....................
When is the last time you looked at the pressure dial?
When is the last time you removed it from the holder and turned it upside down?
Did you hear or feel the powder inside sliding to the top when you did?
Did you shake the bejesus out of it so it did and you know the powder is not all caked up in the bottom?

 

[QC]

Re: avoiding boat fires

I needed mine last year, and share the stupidity every chance I get. I was careless while trying to prime my Merc MPI and she backfired. Caught my hand and the gasoline soaked rag I had on fire and I threw it in the bilge before I realized I coulda thrown it over board. She'd have burned to the water line if I didn't have the extinguisher ready. Actually came through relatively unscathed with the exception of second degree burns and a little clean-up . . . They need to be available and charged, you absolutely never know when you'll need 'em.

 

[fishdog4449]

Re: avoiding boat fires

I have needed one as well and it pays to make sure its in good condition. This happened when I was still a newb boater. The electric start quit working on my Johnson 25 about halfway through the day. I was a idiot back then, didn't disconnect the battery. Looked back doing about 30mph and the front of the cowl is on fire. Grapped the extinquisher which I had the foresite to mount in an easytoreach location, and put it out in about 2 seconds. The battery had melted through where the harness connects to the engine... The flame was about two inches from the gas line. Scary stuff.