Re: Over Nighting/Weekending - Looking for Input
I think most all your follow up questions have been answered except for this one. Since I don’t know where you will be boating I cannot comment on how to contact the marinas in your area. Even if I did know I myself might not be familiar with those waters, however there is hope. It’s call the “Internet”. Maybe you’ve heard of it.
:lol:
No matter where you boat you can find that information on the web. There are also publications for various areas. For example we like to explore areas within and around the ICW. So, we use Skipper Bob's book.
Home | Skipper Bob Cruising Guides This is really the easy part of your trip because you'll be doing 99% of this from land well in advance of your launch date.
I want to go back and hit on that generator rabbit trail for a second. Make no mistake about this. Having one is like comparing RV camping to tent camping with regard to your comfort level. But like everything there are risks that you must assess and address first. Here is a list of priorities I would use when considering whether a portable genset is safe for your boat.
1. Can the genset be mounted outside the enclosed deck space when it is in operation? I store mine inside the stern wall, but when I use it I ALWAYS set it outside the stern wall on the swim deck. I point the exhaust aft of the boat and I use a poly coated locking cable to keep the genset attached to a handrail that is mounted on the aft side of the stern wall. The stern wall provides a level of protection by creating a barrier between the enclosed areas of the boat and the exhaust.
2. Are there any openings where CO can drift, or blow inside the engine compartment/bilge area, mid-berth or galley area? I have a louvered vent on my aft stern wall that is about 20” long and 3 “ wide. It’s a vent to let heat escape from my engine compartment/bilge area. Stuck to the inside of my head door I keep two long strips of Gorilla Tape that I use to cover this vent anytime my Genset is in use. Also, I keep my windows and hatches closed to avoid potential vapor drift from entering the cabin areas.
Here are a few other considerations: How much wind is there. Typically when I am anchored on the open lake there is always a steady breeze which helps to dissipate CO into the atmosphere. It doesn’t take a lot. In tight cove areas, or smaller navigable waterways that are surrounded by trees there may be little or no wind. Now keep in mind that CO has a vapor density which is very close to that of ambient air. The difference is nominal, and CO neither rises, nor falls. However, all gasses that are scrubbed in water, located around water, damp areas or in high humidity (like after night fall) will tend to become a little heavier. That should not create an additional safety issue here because with CO you are relying on air currents to move the CO around until the CO is diluted in the atmosphere, plus you already know that without some wind the CO is not going anywhere. The IDLH (Immediately Dangers to Life and Health) for CO is 1200 ppm (part per million). At that point CO is toxic and flammable. CO is similar to radiation. Depending on the ppm concentration the exposure time to headache, confusion, unconsciousness and death will vary. Here’s your action level: CO detectors alarm at 35 ppm and OSHA allows a worker to be exposed to 40 ppm during an 8 hour workday and a 40 hour work week. If a CO alarm goes into full alarm it should reset if the CO level drops. If the one of the detectors goes into full alarm: Kill the genset asap! See if anyone has symptoms of CO poisoning. Get everyone to fresh air asap. If both detectors are activating simultaneously you definitely have an area that is saturated with no less than 35 ppm. Ventilate the area and stay in fresh air as much as possible. If only one detector has activated and you are thinking it may be a false alarm you can try relocating the secondary detector near the activating alarm to see if you have 2 detection devices that agree there is a problem. If so, see above re: 2 alarms in activation. Use common sense to problem solve this situation. Yes, detectors do fail, but typically they are chirping during failure. I have never seen a CO detector fail that was in full alarm. Finally in any situation, if it doesn’t feel right kill the genset asap and reassess the situation.
3. CO detection is a MUST and I strongly recommend redundancy. You should have no less than 2 CO detectors in operation and test them regularly. Keep extra batteries on board too.
