Engine Compartment Fire - Catalina 34

[Paul Schumacher]

Today I experienced an electrical fire in the engine compartment aboard a five year old Catalina 34 with less than 100 hours on the engine. I've been sailing with the computer and dot com challenged owner for 20 years which is why I'm engaging in this communication attempt. The engine had been running for about an hour as we returned to the slip. As soon as the boat had stopped moving I could smell the distinctive odor of an electrical fire. Smoke was detected and we traced the fire to the engine compartment. An onboard fire extinguisher was used to extinguish the a small flame around a wiring harness that runs aft adjacent to the port side of the engine block, imediately above the starter solenoid and below the water manifold. We haven't throughly examined the damage yet or the electrical components involved but we're reasonably certain that the starter is invloved.Has anyone ever heard of this problem before? I thought it peculiar that this harness would be in such close proximity to high heat sources. Our concern is more with the cause of the fire than the seemingly slight amount of damage done to a small section of wiring (we havent tested any DC electrical components yet).The skipper of the "Joanie B" and I would appreciate any response.

 

[Gary Jensen]

fire cause

Many of the electrical fires that I have encountered as a fireman (in auto fires) are exactly the same as you have described. Our fire reports usually are written that the cause is a result of a short, which is the breakdown of the insulation surrounding the inner "protected wire". Too often this is a result of one of three causes. Heat which breaks down the insulation, friction, or the rubbing which causes wear of the insulation OR the wiring getting snagged on something. You can use the plastic ties to hold it away from any heat source and strap it to fixed objects that are not subject to wear, heat or being snagged. Make sure that any bends in the wiring are NOT acute as a 90 degree bend nor bend over any sharp objects. Always remember to disconnect the positive terminal when working on your wiring. Lastly, when using an extinguisher, if you have the chance of using a CO2 extinguisher, your clean up will be zero as only the heat is removed when extinguishing is being done...Good luck

 

[Paul Schumacher]

Engine Compartment Fire

Gary,Thanks for your response. After posting the story I browsed the technical postings offered by CO and found that there is a highly recommended engine compartment wire harness upgrade which would have prevented our problems. Indeed the upgrade will be made ASAP.Thanks again.Paul

 

[John Mavrovich]

Cause of Fire?

Paul, please tell us more. Was the cause of the fire the molded plastic connectors at either end of the engine harness? There's one at the engine and another behind the control panel in the cockpit. I've posted warnings about this before and feel strongly that we all need to be aware of this. The upgrade kit comes from Seaward for about $20. Please confirm that this was/wasn't the cause. Thanks.John

 

[Paul Schumacher]

Cause of Fire

John,I don't know what caused the fire. The wiring harness at the starter motor was destroyed and I haven't taken a look at the wiring behind the instrument panel in the cockpit yet. Judging by the appearance of the starter gear teeth, which have been ground down considerably, I would say that the starter remained engaged and running after the engine started. It then heated up to the point where the electrical harness started fire. The fire destroyed the starter, generator and wiring harness. Thanks for your reply.