CO Detectors, Propane & Smoke Alarms.

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Bowedtoothdoc

Bowedtoothdoc

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Oct 24, 2011
278
Hunter Passage 450 Lake Lanier, GA
Hello all, I recently purchased a couple of propane heaters for the winter months and would like to ensure the safety of my crew with some CO detectors and possibly smoke and propane detectors as recommended by the surveyor when I purchased the boat last year. I came across a CO detector sold by West Marine but it seems quite expensive compared to some of the Kiddie units sold at Walmart and available on Amazon.com...I would like to know what units others are using and where to get them?
Thanks
 
Nodak7

Nodak7

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Sep 28, 2008
1,256
Hunter 41DS Punta Gorda, FL
Bowedtoothdoc said:
Hello all, I recently purchased a couple of propane heaters for the winter months and would like to ensure the safety of my crew with some CO detectors and possibly smoke and propane detectors as recommended by the surveyor when I purchased the boat last year. I came across a CO detector sold by West Marine but it seems quite expensive compared to some of the Kiddie units sold at Walmart and available on Amazon.com...I would like to know what units others are using and where to get them?
Thanks
Click to expand
Bowed, first question do the propane heaters have low oxygen shut-offs? If so that is good. As far as the CO and smoke detector alarms any good quality battery operated (not 110v) will work for you and your crew. Not certain about the propane detectors though.
 
Bowedtoothdoc

Bowedtoothdoc

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Oct 24, 2011
278
Hunter Passage 450 Lake Lanier, GA
Nodak7 said:
Bowed, first question do the propane heaters have low oxygen shut-offs? If so that is good. As far as the CO and smoke detector alarms any good quality battery operated (not 110v) will work for you and your crew. Not certain about the propane detectors though.
Click to expand
Nodak,
Thanks for the reply...I ended up purchasing two of the Mr. Heater portable units and they do have tip over protection as well as a low oxygen cut off. I tried out one of the units over the weekend and it worked very well. I just want to be extra safe about my crew/family.:)
 
Webone

Webone

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Apr 30, 2010
50
Jeanneau 45.2 Saugatuck, MI
I got a CO and propane combined detector for $100.0 at an RV dealer. Easy install and very little power draw.
 
Bowedtoothdoc

Bowedtoothdoc

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Oct 24, 2011
278
Hunter Passage 450 Lake Lanier, GA
Webone said:
I got a CO and propane combined detector for $100.0 at an RV dealer. Easy install and very little power draw.
Click to expand
So it sounds like yours in hard wired? I was looking at the battery powered units for the sake of simplicity and not having to run additional wiring.
 
Nodak7

Nodak7

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Sep 28, 2008
1,256
Hunter 41DS Punta Gorda, FL
Bowedtoothdoc said:
Nodak,
Thanks for the reply...I ended up purchasing two of the Mr. Heater portable units and they do have tip over protection as well as a low oxygen cut off. I tried out one of the units over the weekend and it worked very well. I just want to be extra safe about my crew/family.:)
Click to expand
Yup Bowed I remember the conversation now and I am glad that you were satisfied with the Units you purchased. I know we have been with ours. Once you decide on a CO alarm keep me posted. I will be installing one this spring myself but have not decided on which to purchase. I do know it will be totally battery powered. I like the CO and Propane Unit discussed earlier but again I want it self sufficient.

I am also looking into refilling the 1lb bottles since I do not want to drag a big bottle (5lb) into the cabin. These things just get to darn complicated......:D
 
R

RonRelyea

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Sep 2, 2009
339
Hunter Vision-32 New Hamburg, NY
Location of Detectors?

Webone said:
I got a CO and propane combined detector for $100.0 at an RV dealer. Easy install and very little power draw.
Click to expand
I can see where a combined unit may be useful in an RV.

CO on a boat would usually be created by a heater, and being that CO is about the same weight as air, the heated CO will rise.

Propane, as we all know, is going to sink to the low point on the boat.

Personally, I'd use separate detectors.
 
Nodak7

Nodak7

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Sep 28, 2008
1,256
Hunter 41DS Punta Gorda, FL
Bowedtoothdoc said:
I am looking at getting two of these units from Wallyworld..http://www.walmart.com/ip/Kidde-CO-and-Smoke-Alarm-Value-Pack/16930278
I think as above that the propane sniffer would need to be mounted in the bilge?
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Looks like that unit would be sufficient. Interesting to note that Hunter installs CO and Smoke Alarms on all their boats but none come with a Propane Alarm. It must not be a requirement or something that anyone requests. Is it really necessary? I guess the guy that blew his boat up in the slip recently would say yes! ;)

We currently have a CO Alarm in the main cabin but not in the aft cabin. Since there are times when we close the cabin door with the heater going I thought an additioonal CO alarm just for that space would a good idea.
 
Gunni

Gunni

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Mar 16, 2010
5,937
Beneteau 411 Oceanis Annapolis
Nodak7 said:
Looks like that unit would be sufficient. Interesting to note that Hunter installs CO and Smoke Alarms on all their boats but none come with a Propane Alarm. It must not be a requirement or something that anyone requests. Is it really necessary? I guess the guy that blew his boat up in the slip recently would say yes! ;)

We currently have a CO Alarm in the main cabin but not in the aft cabin. Since there are times when we close the cabin door with the heater going I thought an additioonal CO alarm just for that space would a good idea.
Click to expand
Yeah, and Hunter doesn't install a propane heater and fuel supply inside the hull. They do a proper ABYC propane install - fuel in a vented locker, solenoid fuel shut off at the locker, piezo appliance shut offs. It then becomes very difficult to reach the LEL for propane inside the boat.

Is there some reason you guys are not using an electric heater? If you want a good balance of cheap, and not becoming the human cannonball, that is a good course.
 
Nodak7

Nodak7

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Sep 28, 2008
1,256
Hunter 41DS Punta Gorda, FL
Gunni said:
Yeah, and Hunter doesn't install a propane heater and fuel supply inside the hull. They do a proper ABYC propane install - fuel in a vented locker, solenoid fuel shut off at the locker, piezo appliance shut offs. It then becomes very difficult to reach the LEL for propane inside the boat.

Is there some reason you guys are not using an electric heater? If you want a good balance of cheap, and not becoming the human cannonball, that is a good course.
Click to expand
Gunni, what do you think the stove fuel is? Propane! There is more chance of a propane leak in the piping to the stove than any other item we have discussed. Even with a solenoid if there is a leak in the piping while it is open.....:eek:

Electric heaters when you are out cruising are not an option unless you want to run a generator.
 
B

Benny17441

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May 24, 2004
7,164
CC 30 South Florida
We use battery powererd ones for the simple reason that when we are not using the boat we just take the batteries out for their longevity and to avoid false alarms.
 
Bowedtoothdoc

Bowedtoothdoc

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Oct 24, 2011
278
Hunter Passage 450 Lake Lanier, GA
Benny17441 said:
We use battery powererd ones for the simple reason that when we are not using the boat we just take the batteries out for their longevity and to avoid false alarms.
Click to expand
I have two electric heaters on the boat that we use when connected to shore power or if the generator is running. I always run them on the lower setting because of the power draw, but I do like the fact that they dehumidify the air unlike the reverse cycle HVAC units. I just purchased the units mentioned above from Walmart and will install them this weekend.
Need more info on the Propane sniffer? I did make sure that the smoke detectors had a mute in case of an accidental alarm when cooking.
 
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