Fire on the hard ... heat damage to my boat

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RonRelyea

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Sep 2, 2009
339
Hunter Vision-32 New Hamburg, NY
There was a fire at White's Hudson River Marina last night. A couple of boats near mine were destroyed. Mine got, at the least, some heat damage. Furler luff melted, nav lights melted, winter cover half burnt off, rub rail looks shot.

For all you experts out there ... could there be hidden damage from the heat? Insurance company will get a call but I want to go into this with a little knowledge under my belt!

http://s767.photobucket.com/user/ronrelyea/media/NepentheintheMiddle-1.jpg.html?filters[user]=101570285&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=0

 

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Maine Sail

Maine Sail

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Feb 6, 1998
11,703
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
Just helping out with the images.. Sorry for your loss.

You will have a pretty big claim but I suspect any hot spots in the glass can be easily repaired. Matching the gelcoat, good luck with that...??

This is a PRIME example of why most marinas and yards have rules that specifically ban boats being left plugged in while on the hard. Up here many yards send guys out to yank the plugs out of the power posts..

I can almost guarantee the boat that burned had shore power connected and this was either an electric heater, overload of the Twist-Lock shore inlet socket or battery charger related...













 
Don S/V ILLusion

Don S/V ILLusion

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Sep 25, 2008
7,379
Alden 50 Sarasota, Florida
We had a fire on our boat many years ago when on the hard for winter storage. Not plugged into shore power!
Pictures on our profile page.

The cause was investigated by both the police and our insurance underwriter but was never determined. The boat wasnt plugged in nor was the DC main power swith on. Batteries were connected but dead.

Its not always related to shore power or any power source for that matter.

To the OP' s question, consequential damage is never obvious or consistent. Make sure you dont agree to a final settlement on your claim until after you get the obvious repairs completed AND you begin using the boat again.
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

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Feb 6, 1998
11,703
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
Don S/V ILLusion said:
We had a fire on our boat many years ago when on the hard for winter storage. Not plugged into shore power!
Pictures on our profile page.

The cause was investigated by both the police and our insurance underwriter but was never determined. The boat wasnt plugged in nor was the DC main power swith on. Batteries were connected but dead.

Its not always related to shore power or any power source for that matter.

To the OP' s question, consequential damage is never obvious or consistent. Make sure you dont agree to a final settlement on your claim until after you get the obvious repairs completed AND you begin using the boat again.
Click to expand
Fires have many causes, and they are not always electrical in nature, but with boats on the hard electrical fires are a big percentage. The majority of boat yards up here mandate all batteries be 100% disconnected if stored on-board. Just good practice...

I have seen bilge pumps freeze then the batteries keep dumping current into the locked rotor and cause a boat fire. This is why the proper size fuse for a bilge pump is critical.... 12V batts have a LOT of current behind them and once a plastic case of bilge pump catches fire it can be good night Charlie......

That fire looked pretty bad, scary stuff!!
 
Ralph Johnstone

Ralph Johnstone

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Jan 4, 2006
7,229
Hunter 310 West Vancouver, B.C.
Do a close inspection of your rub rail and the hull/ deck joint underneath wherever it was exposed to high heat. There's one bow pic in there that looks particularly bad if that one refers to you boat. Sorry for your loss.
 
25yearslater

25yearslater

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Aug 20, 2010
1,399
Oday 27 Oak Orchard
Sorry for the loss Ron. Back in the day when I was working in a marina in Rochester, NY there were 2 different fires that burned dozens of boats stored indoors. Cause - kids playing on the boats and building fires in them. Not sure what they were thinking or if they were thinking at all.
 
HukilauMike

HukilauMike

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May 31, 2004
858
Catalina 28 Branford
Ron: If you want a information about the damage that can be caused by a fire on a fiberglass boat, I highly recommend you review Tim Lackey's journal on his aborted attempt to resurrect an Allied Seabreeze that had been in fire. Tim describes in detail (pictures included) the damage caused to this boat, and what he thinks would be necessary to truly repair it. It seems that the damage to the Seabreeze is far more extensive than your boat (the fire was aboard the Seabreeze itself), but I think its instructive to show the types of damage you might find, both cosmetic and structural. And if you've never come across Tim's websites before, prepare for a treat; Tim meticulously details his work on a variety of boats, which includes everything from total restorations to minor touchups. I especially liked his work on his "Daysailor" project, where he gutted a derelict Pearson Triton and created a new daysailor from the bare hull.

Enjoy.

http://www.seabreeze.lackeysailing.com/
 
R

RonRelyea

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Sep 2, 2009
339
Hunter Vision-32 New Hamburg, NY
Fire Damage Survey Update

update on the survey ....

Surveyor found some glass delamination on the starboard bow. With that repair, new furler, nav lights, anchor rhode, rub rail and insert, etc., the total came to about $6,400.

The claim remains open in case they find additional damage to the hull-deck joint after they take off the rub rail .....

THANKS EVERYONE for the kind words and advice! If anyone thinks of anything else, feel free to chime in!
 
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