My boat exploded / Question about using kicker for main power

[hz]

On Feb 28th I was warming up my I/O for about 5 minutes when the engine exploded on my Bayliner Skagit 2250 hardtop with full canvas. I had to run through a wall of fire to get off. About 5 seconds later the gas tank exploded. I am truly blessed to be able to discuss this. The reason for the explosion could not be determined because the boat burned to the waterline. I had second degree burns but fortunately after about 4 weeks the burns have healed. This has made me uncomfortable about owning or using any boat with an inboard engine.

Which brings me to a question that may be diverted to the outboard forum. However, I'm hoping I can get an answer here.

Previously I had bought another Bayliner Skagit 2250 to sell but I guess I'll be using it instead of selling it. However, I'm now terrified of running it with the I/O. Since I'm close to salmon and sturgeon on the Columbia river, I don't have to go far from the ramp.

Therefore, I'm going to be putting a kicker on the swim step for main power. The bottom line is, can I use a 25hp outboard since it doesn't weigh much more than a 15hp, or is there something negative that might happen? Thanks for bearing with me

Harris

 

[Maxx99]

Re: My boat exploded / Question about using kicker for main power

well, the only thing i would think that might be a problem is that the swim platform may not be able to take the stress from a bigger motor. Its not really made to be a transom.

do you have a blower inside the engine compartment? normally before you start the engine or after you get fuel you should run the blower for a few to remove the gas fumes from the engine compartment.

 

[hz]

Re: My boat exploded / Question about using kicker for main power

Did the blower. Still exploded after 5 minutes.

 

[flamron]

Re: My boat exploded / Question about using kicker for main power

Not to help, but I had to jump off of a friends outboard boat a few years ago as one of the fuel tanks popped while under way (after about 15 minutes of driving) and caught fire. It burned the entire boat to ashes. It did not explode, though.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: My boat exploded / Question about using kicker for main power

If it exploded, either the blower was not working, or you had a direct fuel leak on the manifold.

That said, thank God you are alright and have healed.!!

I would not even try any motor on the swim step, most of them don't have the strength and you will probably end up loosing a motor, I have seen it done on the Columbia before, smooth water, works okay, but if you catch a roller that the Columbia is well known for, the force is going to shear the swim step off and drop the motor, in addition it will probably crack the hull and then your going to be in another fix trying to get back to shore before the boat swamps..I had to swim from mid river to the ramp one time due to a very similar situation, it was not fun, that water is darn cold!

 

[ziggy]

Re: My boat exploded / Question about using kicker for main power

man, that's a scary story hz. glad yer here.

only thing i can add is i'm with flamron. accidents can happen with o/b's too. 3 weeks ago at my local watering hole. 2 fellas out fishing as some of the ice was off the lake. their o/b caught fire and blew up. one cat drowned, one survived. no mention in the news about what happened. but i talked with a guy on a job i was on that knew the survivor. said the fuel line caught fire and traveled to the fuel tank. kaboom. both ended up in + or - 38 degree water. survivor stayed with the boat, fatality tried to swim to shore. didn't make it a 100' and the survivor heard his buddy's last gasp. very scary ****.....

only thing i can think is get back on the horse and ride. check your fuel system to the max (from what i understand, the sniff test is very telling). i sure keep an eye on mine.

sure am glad your alright.

the o/b on yer swim platform idea don't sound the greatest to me. unless it's set up for the load somehow..

 

[roscoe]

Re: My boat exploded / Question about using kicker for main power

Gonna be hard to operate an outboard thats on the swim platform anyway.

And you still have the i/o and fuel tank below.

If you are serious about not running an i/o, then sell the boat and buy a more suitable outboard based boat.

 

[DaNinja]

Re: My boat exploded / Question about using kicker for main power

I don't have all the circumstances, but I don't think bailing on I/Os is necessary. I had a leak from the sending unit that probably put a gallon of gas in the bilge. It was a pain to clean up, but since I inspected the bilge before I started the motor, I caught it before starting the motor.

We had a fire on a Baja at the lake last year. Reports are that he smelled fumes after refueling and turned on blower (or bilge pump). He had to jump through the flames to get to the water. The only good thing was that he didn't have family and friends in the cuddy of the 38' Baja.

I have established a few risk management rules over the years.

1) All passengers are off the boat during refuel. (the risk is low, but do I really want to deal with thirteen pax trying to leave the boat in a fire)
2) Engine cowling up during refuel, (or whatever gives you a look at your tank and/or bilge)
3) Monitor the refueling. (Dock girls are not always hired for their petro-engineering degrees)
4) Don't overfill (unless you want to find that leak in the vent line)
5) Inspect after fueling (no gas in the bilge, no major fumes)
6) Cowling still open, run blower (gas fumes are heavier than air and you may have not smelled them)
7) Let blower run while you send someone to get everybody from the marina's gift shop.
8) Start engine, close cowling, and board the pax and everything that they bought from the gift shop.

You had a tough hit Hz, but it's all about risk management.
Safe boating in whatever venue you decide to pursue!

 

[DaNinja]

Re: My boat exploded / Question about using kicker for main power

Hesitant to add this to the thread, but this is one of the things that added to my rules.
Boat fire at the gas dock

Don't click on it Hz.

 

[veritas honus]

Re: My boat exploded / Question about using kicker for main power

I don't have all the circumstances, but I don't think bailing on I/Os is necessary. I had a leak from the sending unit that probably put a gallon of gas in the bilge. It was a pain to clean up, but since I inspected the bilge before I started the motor, I caught it before starting the motor.

We had a fire on a Baja at the lake last year. Reports are that he smelled fumes after refueling and turned on blower (or bilge pump). He had to jump through the flames to get to the water. The only good thing was that he didn't have family and friends in the cuddy of the 38' Baja.

I have established a few risk management rules over the years.

1) All passengers are off the boat during refuel. (the risk is low, but do I really want to deal with thirteen pax trying to leave the boat in a fire)
2) Engine cowling up during refuel, (or whatever gives you a look at your tank and/or bilge)
3) Monitor the refueling. (Dock girls are not always hired for their petro-engineering degrees)
4) Don't overfill (unless you want to find that leak in the vent line)
5) Inspect after fueling (no gas in the bilge, no major fumes)
6) Cowling still open, run blower (gas fumes are heavier than air and you may have not smelled them)
7) Let blower run while you send someone to get everybody from the marina's gift shop.
8) Start engine, close cowling, and board the pax and everything that they bought from the gift shop.

You had a tough hit Hz, but it's all about risk management.
Safe boating in whatever venue you decide to pursue!

^^^^^Everything Ninja said^^^^^

I'm really glad you're OK. I wouldn't lose faith in I/O's because of this incident, though. You have to be confident on the water. If getting an O/B helps, then do it. It will mean getting a different boat, though; if you want to do things the right way. I'm sure you'll figure it out. Keep us posted with your thoughts. Again, glad you're OK.

 

[heyyou325]

Re: My boat exploded / Question about using kicker for main power

I can attest to what Ziggy said. About 10 to 12 years ago I was out with my son and his friend, both 10 to 12, probably about a mile from shore and 5 from the dock, when my 40 hp Johnson blew a sparkplug out of the head and lit the motor on fire. I luckily got it out, I'm a firm believer you can't have too many fire extinguishers, it took 3 to get it all the way out. Had to run back to dock with my 6 horse kicker that didn't start easy. Next day my son's friend wanted to go again. We were going fishing and I'd rather give up breathing than fishing.

 

[oldfordcrap]

Re: My boat exploded / Question about using kicker for main power

you will still need a gas tank gas fumes can still settle in your boat you still have spark i see no advantage to an out board.ps i can totally understand your worry and concern glad to see you getting back into it time will give you more confidence on board give yourself that and good luck!!!!!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: My boat exploded / Question about using kicker for main power

back to the specific question--I would not power a 22 foot boat--and a heavy one at that--with a 25 hp motor. You are way underpowered and its more important to equip your boat for conditions you hope never to see than your fair weather conditions.

 

[180shabah]

Re: My boat exploded / Question about using kicker for main power

I have established a few risk management rules over the years.

1) All passengers are off the boat during refuel. (the risk is low, but do I really want to deal with thirteen pax trying to leave the boat in a fire)
2) Engine cowling up during refuel, (or whatever gives you a look at your tank and/or bilge)3) Monitor the refueling. (Dock girls are not always hired for their petro-engineering degrees)
4) Don't overfill (unless you want to find that leak in the vent line)
5) Inspect after fueling (no gas in the bilge, no major fumes)
6) Cowling still open, run blower (gas fumes are heavier than air and you may have not smelled them)
7) Let blower run while you send someone to get everybody from the marina's gift shop.
8) Start engine, close cowling, and board the pax and everything that they bought from the gift shop.

There is a problem with the above - during fueling ALL hatches, covers and access points should be CLOSED to limit vapor intrusion, then opened after completion for inspection and ventilation.

 

[DaNinja]

Re: My boat exploded / Question about using kicker for main power

There is a problem with the above - during fueling ALL hatches, covers and access points should be CLOSED to limit vapor intrusion, then opened after completion for inspection and ventilation.

I've read both and it think the difference was the target audience.
Big cruisers vs. smaller sport boats.
I do believe a case could be made for either, but I like to be able to see that gas is entering the tank before I find out that the last ten gallons went to the bilge.
I really don't want to offer my background with that event. :facepalm: