Boat Fire

[sailaway78]

Headed east last Thursday, when we were contacted by a trawler. Just a courtesy, said he was coming around us on port side. Went through the Rigolet's railroad bridge, and headed off to anchor up. About an hour later, we hear a radio call to the CG that a boat is on fire. It was the trawler. There was another boat close by that got the people off, but the boat was a total loss. We could see the smoke from our anchorage, and it burned for at least four hours. After dark, couldn't see any more, but could see the smoke column till it was dark.

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

Terrible. Fire aboard is my greatest fear, even more than sinking.

Is the anchorage at Rabbit Island still full of gravel barges? Last time I was through had to stay at Little Rigolets. Which is an ok anchorage anyway

 

[kloudie1]

That boat looks like an old Hatteras .. was she named Hatt Lady?

EDIT: I was afraid it had belonged to a buddy.. a boat that I helped to deliver from Ft. Lauderdale to Lake Pontchartrain.. Similar but not the same boat..

 

[Ken13559]

Is fire blanket a useful item to have onboard? Not relating to the trawler fire, but rather a personal interest.

 

[pabraam]

Always useful and actually just as important as fire-extinguishers. I have one near the galley and one in the forward, v-berth, hut. In case the escape-hatch there is blocked for whatever reason, you wrap the fire blanket around you and dash through the cabin towards the companionway.

 

[sailaway78]

It was a Hatteras

It was an old Hatteras, according to radio conversation. Never heard the name mentioned. The rabbit island anchorage had nothing in it. But some very shallow water about mid way through there. Bottom came up fast, and was showing 5feet. Stirring up mud when I backed off. Was on a friends Hunter 36, which draws 4'6".

 

[BigEasy]

Boat belonged to a guy who is in the New Orleans Power Squadron. Both boats were heading to a power squadron get together at Gulfport Harbor for the weekend. Boat had twin screw gas engines; everyone got off OK. Unfortunately the boat was a total loss. Don't know what caused the fire. Thankfully the other boat was nearby and could readily assist.

 

[sailaway78]

We could hear

We could hear the rescue and conversation with CG going on. Knew they got off the boat OK. We were just too far away to be of any help. There were three boats traveling together. A fairly large Sea Ray and another trawler. I was wondering if I had heard right, or they had just used gas as a fuel word. I did hear they had 150 gallons on board, and they said gas. I guess they were right, and it wasn't diesel.

 

[kloudie1]

Whew.. I know my buddy's Hatteras is diesel.. Delivery was interesting, around 950 miles and around 950 gallons of diesel.. No fire.

 

[Chris Patterson]

This Hatteras I'm working on uses 115 gallons of diesel an hour, and 140 if he's really got 'er in the corner. Not knowing the capacity, my guess it would be a huge fire.


Which reminds me, my compadre on the hill has a Chris Craft that has twin big block gas burners in it.......and the engine room halon extinguishing system is disabled.

Mm..