Stay safe

[Ken Cross]

Tonight while tucked away in our boat came an abrupt noise like something hit our boat hard. I flew out of the companionway to hear the lady in the powerboat next door shout fire. The concussion was a propane blast. No one was hurt and the fire died as soon as the tank was shut off. It was startling because the blast was only about six feet from our boat. No one was hurt, but it attracted several people nearby to render any needed assistance. I have no idea why they didn't smell it. I'll talk with them more in the am.

This took place a couple hours after I witnessed an accident where a sail boat in full throttle reverse and a stuck throttle smashed into a large powerboat.

Stay safe everyone

 

[jssailem]

Stay safe Ken. Sounds like after a peaceful trip you are associating with a wild bunch.

 

[Ken Cross]

It is a nice young family.

Ken

 

[jssailem]

Sure. A blow em-up nice young family.
Happy for them that the fire was promptly extinguished.

 

[Will Gilmore]

These "little" incidences are wake up calls. It is up to the witnesses to learn from them. That includes all of us reading about it on SBO. My personal experience is, that's a hit or miss lesson. I try to pay attention, but all those times nothing goes wrong can undermine the need to attend to closing valves, properly tie lines, change bald tires, when you have so much else to attend to. Is hard to slow down and go through the check list when you're late and in a hurry.

I'm glad, Ken, you and others aren't hurt.

-Will (Dragonfly)

 

[dlochner]

They were lucky.

Older propane systems are more vulnerable to leaks than the latest crop of systems. Propane sensors integrate with the solenoid and shut the solenoid if gas is present.

 

[Ken Cross]

Update, it was a butane stove with portable canisters. He said he thought it smelled like butane just before the boom. The boat is a new looking 28 foot Sundancer. Now they are cooking on a magma grill on the dock. It doesn't seem to have dampened their spirits.