Mounting 2 CO Detectors in '97 250 Sundancer

[Blind Date]

A new law that goes into effect in Minnesota this season will require me to put 2 CO detecters in my Sundancer. One in the main cabin and one in the aft cabin. Anyone have any experience with this? Wondering if it matters whether they are mounted high or low.

Here's a couple pictures of the boat. Thinking the one in the aft cabin will go on the wall that separates engine compartment form the interior of the boat. For the main cabin should I mount it as far forward as possible or just stick in the middle on the galley console. I can also mount it across from that on the head/closet wall.

 

[alldodge]

My cruiser is laid out about like yours and I have one under the breaker panel right next to the A/C control. The other is just inside the AFT cabin under the steps.

 

[Blind Date]

Thanks for the response AllDodge. So height wise are they both mounted roughly 1/2 the distance (middle) from the floor to the ceiling?

 

[alldodge]

Thanks for the response AllDodge. So height wise are they both mounted roughly 1/2 the distance (middle) from the floor to the ceiling?

I don't think height plays into the equation, but the forward one below the breaker panel is about 4 feet high. The AFT cabin is about 2.5 feet high (have to crawl in). We did have the CO detector go off in the cabin one day, just from use breathing. The night was cool but not cold, so we had everything closed up (no AC or heat). About 3 to 4 in the AM, we get woke up. SO from then on we leave one of the port holes slightly open

 

[Thalasso]

Mine is next to the light (v berth) and the other inside the AFT cabin under the steps. Did you buy them yet? Don't use home style CO detectors

 

[Thalasso]

I don't think height plays into the equation, but the forward one below the breaker panel is about 4 feet high. The AFT cabin is about 2.5 feet high (have to crawl in). We did have the CO detector go off in the cabin one day, just from use breathing. The night was cool but not cold, so we had everything closed up (no AC or heat). About 3 to 4 in the AM, we get woke up. SO from then on we leave one of the port holes slightly open

How old are your detectors?

 

[alldodge]

How old are your detectors?

Boat is a 94 so my guess is they are about a 94 model, factory installed by Formula

 

[Blind Date]

Mine is next to the light (v berth) and the other inside the AFT cabin under the steps. Did you buy them yet? Don't use home style CO detectors

Haven't bought them yet. The law requires marine rated detectors so that's what I'll be putting in.

 

[alldodge]

Don't know if KY has the same regulation or not, haven't looked. I see it would be needed only needed if the boat has a generator. Also looked up how long the detectors last from Thalasso's comment, and finding the suggested replacement is about 5 years.

 

[Blind Date]

We had tragedy on a local lake (Minnetonka) in the Twin Cities late last summer. This is a new law. I slip my boat through the city on that same lake. I have three younger boys, one the same age as the little girl who this happened to last summer. This really hit home for me.

I provided a link to a video of the girls mother testifying in front of the MN senate to push for this law. It's hard to watch as she tells the story of how she lost a child that day. I was completely astounded just how quick this happened. I think for anyone around boats, especially one with a cabin, it's worth viewing for educational purposes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZL_a35otdk

 

[Old Ironmaker]

I just want to add that a CO detector will not alarm when there is a propane or NG leak. With a combustion engine not running there is no CO being produced, the boat in the slip next to you could be running though.

Thanks for the link Blind Date, tragic and preventable. Everyone should familiarize themselves with the symptoms of Carbon Monoxide poisoning. It is the silent killer as it is both odorless and invisible. Having worked in the Mining industry I have had far too many experiences with it even though we were aware it was there and were monitoring for it. Death can be almost instantaneous if the part per million of CO in air is high enough.

CO Detectors should be changed at least annually. A CO detector will not alarm because of breathing in a confined space. Humans emit CO2 not CO.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

I don't think height plays into the equation, but the forward one below the breaker panel is about 4 feet high. The AFT cabin is about 2.5 feet high (have to crawl in). We did have the CO detector go off in the cabin one day, just from use breathing. The night was cool but not cold, so we had everything closed up (no AC or heat). About 3 to 4 in the AM, we get woke up. SO from then on we leave one of the port holes slightly open

Impossible for a CO monitor to alarm because of breathing. We emit CO2 not CO. Whomever told you it alarmed because you were breathing is ill informed at the least. You need new CO monitors. I change ours annually.

As far as height is concerned theoretically CO may be lighter than air but because it will have solid particulate of carbon in it when incomplete combustion takes place it will be heavier than air. 1 monitor should be mounted low and a second higher in the confined space.

 

[Thalasso]

Boat is a 94 so my guess is they are about a 94 model, factory installed by Formula

Surprised they lasted that long. They have end of life. (5 yrs). Then they start going off unexpectedly. I have had to replace two
. [h=3]CO Detectors End Of Life - Fireboy-Xintex

[/h]

www.fireboy-xintex.com/co-detectors-end-of-life/

​

 

[Thalasso]

I just want to add that a CO detector will not alarm when there is a propane or NG leak. With a combustion engine not running there is no CO being produced, the boat in the slip next to you could be running though.

Thanks for the link Blind Date, tragic and preventable. Everyone should familiarize themselves with the symptoms of Carbon Monoxide poisoning. It is the silent killer as it is both odorless and invisible. Having worked in the Mining industry I have had far too many experiences with it even though we were aware it was there and were monitoring for it. Death can be almost instantaneous if the part per million of CO in air is high enough.

CO Detectors should be changed at least annually. A CO detector will not alarm because of breathing in a confined space. Humans emit CO2 not CO.

They now have co detectors that alarm for propane [h=3]S-1A Propane and CNG fume Detector | Fireboy-Xintex[/h]

 

[Old Ironmaker]

They now have co detectors that alarm for propane [h=3]S-1A Propane and CNG fume Detector | Fireboy-Xintex[/h]

Absolutely right, there are monitors that will detect non combusted Propane or NG. They aren't CO detectors. CO won't be produced until there has been combustion of carbon.

 

[alldodge]

Whomever told you it alarmed because you were breathing is ill informed at the least. You need new CO monitors.

Calm down buck wheat, no one told me, all I know is the wife and I were woke up because it went off. Sounds like you might just be the iboats expert, we could use one of those

I change ours annually.

I think that's great, maybe pass your old ones to a local that doesn't have the extra bucks to do that. From what I read about them they say 3 to 5 years, so you could be saving a life.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

Calm down buck wheat, no one told me, all I know is the wife and I were woke up because it went off. Sounds like you might just be the iboats expert, we could use one of those



I think that's great, maybe pass your old ones to a local that doesn't have the extra bucks to do that. From what I read about them they say 3 to 5 years, so you could be saving a life.

Buck Wheat? Excuse me. Yes I would be deemed an expert in CO monitoring and exposure for testimony in a Court of Law here in Ontario based on my 35 years of Blast Furnace operations. I have had a good friend die of CO exposure and I as well have had a stay in a Hyperbolic Chamber. CO isn't a joking matter cupcake. You are the one that said it went off because of your breathing, ridiculous.