Are you prepared for a fire?

[Justin_NSA]

Just got a feature newsletter from Practical Sailor on fire extinguishers. I confess, I don't check mine often enough. I think I have enough dry chemical units on board. I should label the cockpit bin where that one is kept. Maybe it's not as critical on a diesel, but I don't have a "fire port" with an appropriate "clean agent" extinguisher (i.e. CO2, Halotron, FM-200, FE-241). I just read that a typical chemical extinguisher is corrosive to the engine and hard to remove. You can imagine after doing any service to an inboard.
Are you prepared? Units are charged and free of obstructions? Have enough capacity for a typical fire? An onboard unit only last for 10 seconds of continuous use.
This is something I'm going to assess next time I'm out. I'm not even sure where the nearest extinguisher is on the dock or boatyard.

 

[JRacer]

Justin, there should be one mounted on the gate of each slip and they are regularly serviced, I believe.

 

[Justin_NSA]

Justin, there should be one mounted on the gate of each slip and they are regularly serviced, I believe.

Thanks Schoen! Figures the club is prepared. I need to be sure I've done my part

 

[Pat]

I'm headed out there later today hopefully, for sure tomorrow. I looked at my extinguisher earlier this spring, but it
indicated it still had a charge or whatever you would call it, but how can that be since I've not used it and bought it for the boat in 1986? Can they last that long un-touched/i.e. w/original charge...? Should I replace it or take it somewhere for charging.....? Patrick

 

[justsomeguy]

It's been recommended to upend your dry chemical extinguishers once in a while to reduce possible impaction of the powdery stuff.

 

[Justin_NSA]

I'm headed out there later today hopefully, for sure tomorrow. I looked at my extinguisher earlier this spring, but it
indicated it still had a charge or whatever you would call it, but how can that be since I've not used it and bought it for the boat in 1986? Can they last that long un-touched/i.e. w/original charge...? Should I replace it or take it somewhere for charging.....? Patrick

That sure doesn't give you a warm fuzzy. Jackie takes our home extinguishers somewhere downtown to have them inspected. My boat units say charged too but you wonder...
Missed you two this weekend. Great weather. It's coming to an end soon

 

[Justin_NSA]

It's been recommended to upend your dry chemical extinguishers once in a while to reduce possible impaction of the powdery stuff.

I hate impaction
Do you leave them upside down a while? Shake them?

 

[CaptKimble]

Give them a shake every 90 days or so. You can even add a placard that you sign off to make sure you in fact did inspect and shake them. In aviation we actually weigh them periodically to ensure that the material hasn't leaked out somehow. I want to get myself a CO2 extinguisher and install a fire port. I'm installing a bigger chemical unit in my aft lazzerette since any fire in my galley or engine at the foot of the companionway would preclude access to any extinguisher down below. The bigger unit was purchased at Costco and will allow a good 30 seconds of agent dispersal before it empties. If you can't knock the fire down in 30 seconds then you need to start thinking about abandon ship. Remember that you can use water to cool down any place you had on fire to avoid re ignition of combustible materials. Practice, Practice, Practice. Make sure everyone on board knows how to operate the equipment and how to disconnect power from shore and from the batteries. I also plan on adding placards for the extinguishers to better mark the locations. Just remember this, if you can't put out the fire your ONLY alternative is to abandon ship. It is why the Navy spends so much time ensuring every sailor knows what to do.

 

[Jackdaw]

A boat fire doubles in size every 5 seconds. It goes from nuisance to problem to disaster to life-threatening in 20.

Have more extinguisher than you need. Train crew. SECONDS COUNT.

 

[Rick D]

Common dry chemical extinguishers are recommended to be replaced every 10-12 years.

 

[Roland5048]

A boat fire doubles in size every 5 seconds. It goes from nuisance to problem to disaster to life-threatening in 20.

Have more extinguisher than you need. Train crew. SECONDS COUNT.

I'll second that. Had a galley fire on a charter boat that I was captain of some years ago. Someone had mixed two kinds of fuel producing what was virtually gasoline. Two extinguishers later the fire was still not out. With copious amounts of water we were able to cool this enough to put out this fire without it spreading. Clients on the foredeck never knew what happened. Maybe thought the chef had burned their meal. Whole incident probably lasted less than 45 seconds. Most scared I can ever remember being.

 

[jviss]

http://www.kidde.com/home-safety/en...s/articles/do_fire_extinguishers_expire_.aspx

Do fire extinguishers expire?
Nov 29, 2011



Rechargeable fire extinguishers
According to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards, rechargeable fire extinguishers must be recharged every 10 years.

A rechargeable fire extinguisher has a metal head, and a gauge that reads Charge / Recharge. Check your fire extinguishers gauge monthly to verify that your fire extinguisher is still charged. If the extinguisher’s gauge needle is in the Recharge area, have your fire extinguisher recharged immediately.

Kidde’s rechargeable fire extinguishers all have a six-year warranty.

For more information about your specific fire extinguisher, refer to your user’s manual.

Disposable fire extinguishers
According to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards, disposable fire extinguishers must be replaced every 12 years.

A disposable fire extinguisher has a plastic head, and a gauge that reads Full / Empty. Check your fire extinguishers gauge monthly to verify that your fire extinguisher is still full. If the extinguisher’s gauge needle is in the EMPTY area, replace your fire extinguisher immediately.

Kidde’s disposable fire extinguishers all have a 10 to 12-year warranty.

For more information about your specific fire extinguisher, refer to your user’s manual.

 

[jssailem]

Why this is a good thread....
From our Marina this past summer. Boat (newly purchased), owner trying to bring the boat into the marina and it's slip.
Explodes into flames. Crew abandons ship. Boat drifts into the slips and then the flames spread...

 

[CaptKimble]

The Coast Guard inspected my old boat (Catalina 30) He asked to see my fire extinguisher. I said "which one?" I showed him the 2 in the vee berth, one in the head, one in the salon, two in the galley ( one large, one small ) and the one in the cockpit. I couldn't believe that only one is required. He was impressed but to me it's just common sense. On the other hand, I went aboard a 40 foot powerboat with two gas powered inboards and declined to go for a harbor cruise until my friend installed additional extinguishers beyond the one in the salon and one in the cockpit. He now has built in extinguishers that can be activated without opening up the engine compartment after I dug up some video's online to show him.

 

[jviss]

Wow. What make was the boat that started burning?

 

[jviss]

On my old boat, we always had up-to-date fire extinguishers, one in the forward cabin, one by the companionway/galley, and a third in the lazarette. We shook them up, vigorously, every season, and checked the pressure gauge.

The new boat has a Fireboy-Xintex engine compartment fire suppression system, with both automatic and manual activation, and a couple of brackets for five-pounders, but only one dry-chemical 5 lb. extinguisher present, with a "10" date code.

Dry chemical is the least expensive, but also a bear to clean up after. I am toying with the idea of a couple or three 5 lb. Halotron extinguishers. Yes, they are a lot more money, like, $125 each. They are refillable/serviceable. They won't be hard to clean up after, and they won't ruin electronics, etc. Maybe a more "handy" 2.5 lb. unit near the galley is a good idea.

Agree, you can't have too many of these. A strategy for Class A fires is a good idea, too. I'm planning on the fresh water wash down, and/or transom shower, and then a bucket, but maybe that's not enough.

 

[jssailem]

The news reports never identified the boat make. It was a power boat. I never did see a report of the investigation. May still be in litigation. Understood the boat had the new owner in command bringing her to her new home.

Fire investigators said the fire was started by a boat with mechanical problems and has been ruled an accident.

 

[Parsons]

I need to re-think extinguishers after reading this thread.

... Just remember this, if you can't put out the fire your ONLY alternative is to abandon ship.

My situation, and that of many of us up north, is that "abandon ship" is not an option. For the first and last month of my sailing season, abandoning ship in a PFD means you die within the hour (at most). I'd probably call Mayday and jump, but that would be like the decision to jump out of a burning skyscraper - a choice of death.

 

[jviss]

I need to re-think extinguishers after reading this thread.


My situation, and that of many of us up north, is that "abandon ship" is not an option. For the first and last month of my sailing season, abandoning ship in a PFD means you die within the hour (at most). I'd probably call Mayday and jump, but that would be like the decision to jump out of a burning skyscraper - a choice of death.

Survival suit. As low as $311. I have two.

 

[jssailem]

Survival suit.

Also known as the Gumby Suit. Warm and longer immersion resistant.
Or you can try..

which you can wear sailing solo. You still have some protection but you have a lot of mobility.