Yanmar 4JH4E No Start
- Thread starter gfrazzle
- Start date
I may be a little niave but why do you "have to have" a suppression system. Why not just leave it in "override" and have a handy manual fire extinguisher or two nearby as required by the coast guard. I would hazard to guess for boats in the 40 to 42 foot range the VAST majority of us don't have an automatic fire suppression system anyway and I don't intend on installing one? Is it really needed for a diesel engine compartment or just an added thing to go wrong? Just askin!!!
Very possibly. Maybe you can get an insurance reduction if you have a suppression system like you do on a car for an "anti-theft" device? My question is whether you "have to have it." If it a "must have" then many, many of us are out of compliance. If its a matter of a reduced rate on the insurance then the question is how much of a reduction and is it worth the cost of repair/replacment? Just a question. Not really questioning whether its a good idea or not, just wondering if its really necessary to have it. How many of you out there with have an automatic suppression system and whether you think its really necessary for a diesel?
The only fixed fire extinguisher systems I see are on CG inspected vessels- basically commercial passenger carrying boats. Charter fishing boats around me. Some fancy custom boats also have them. If I had one installed, I might be tempted to keep it operational. But as some of you have seen, they are very expensive and somewhat wonky. As it is I keep a halotron gas fire extinguisher nearby for potential engine fires. Have a fire-port on my engine bay that allows suppression without opening the access door (companionway stairs).
All the Hunter 41 owners I know have a fire suppression system installed from the factory. I'm sure they do it on all their larger boats. We also have a fire port in the engine box cover, aka the companion way stairs, on the port side by the oven. I'm pretty sure the insurance company would have a cow if they knew the system was non operational and might not cover a fire, especially an engine room fire. I fixed mine as soon as I could and I like the fact that it's on board and at the ready.
uncledom and/or Gunni - Just out of curiosity what does the "fire port" look like? Is it just an opening, an opening with a flapper valve, or what? Is it designed to take a manual fire extinquisher of some kind. A picture would be appreciated because I might be interested in installing one on my boat. Inquiring minds want to know. I realize it appears that Hunter installed this on the "newer" larger (ie 41+ foot boats) but is it required by anything other than your insurance company? I don't think its required by the Coast Gaurd for a vessel not engaged in commercial operations of some sort. Do you get a discount on the insurance? Does the insurance company even know its on the boat? Just questions for improvements in the off season.
Disregard my question as to what a fire port looks like. I found it at Defender. Think I'll probably install one since I don't currently have that on my boat. Sounds like cheap "insurance" even if not a required backfit.
I have the fire suppression system on my h46 and on the engine compartment access door there is a finger hole covered by a rotating flap. Rather than opening the access door during a small fire and risking a larger fire now that oxygen rushes in the flap may be rotated and a manual fire extinguisher inserted into the finger hole.
There is a hole in the port side of the engine compartment cover/companion way stairs that is covered with a tear drop of wood with a single screw for it to pivot on from the top. It looks like an old time covered key hole. You take the nozzle of the extinguisher and move the wood cover to one side and fire away. Pun intended.
What I found interesting is that may of the standard features that Hunter engineered into the 41 back in 2003-2004, when they got BOY, gradually disappeared as cost saving measures. When Marlow brought out the 40, all of the safety items became options rather than standard. The sailboat business is brutal.......
Update:
My fire bottle pressure is in fact low so contacted Sea-Fire for replacement. The correct model is the FG50A which lists for $303 on their website. I received the following quote:
Bottle: $430 plus install, ride time?: $265 (don't think they realize my boat is in California) and a required inspection: $200, so total is $895 plus installation! (BreakOutAnotherThousand)
Incidentally, the Sea-Fire warranty states that for out of warranty (3 years ) replacement, the old cylinder would be replaced for 1/2 the retail price after receipt of the old bottle. When I pointed this out, I was told they didn't know anything about that.
I ordered elsewhere for $343 including shipping and a $35 hazmat fee.
Thanks again for all the help folks!
My fire bottle pressure is in fact low so contacted Sea-Fire for replacement. The correct model is the FG50A which lists for $303 on their website. I received the following quote:
Bottle: $430 plus install, ride time?: $265 (don't think they realize my boat is in California) and a required inspection: $200, so total is $895 plus installation! (BreakOutAnotherThousand)
Incidentally, the Sea-Fire warranty states that for out of warranty (3 years ) replacement, the old cylinder would be replaced for 1/2 the retail price after receipt of the old bottle. When I pointed this out, I was told they didn't know anything about that.
I ordered elsewhere for $343 including shipping and a $35 hazmat fee.
Thanks again for all the help folks!
I replaced mine with a FIREBOY unit. Easy installation just screwed new bracket where old one was and wired to circuit using heat shrink marine terminals. Works just as original.
Dakno,
I purchased the FG50A bottle here:
http://www.go2marine.com Part # 100086
This is a direct replacement for the original- comes with a bracket but it fits in the original one. The head is a little different than the old one which had a protective wire frame but otherwise identical. It is wired for the engine stop system and has the correct plug. Simple install. $343 out the door and fast shipping.
I purchased the FG50A bottle here:
http://www.go2marine.com Part # 100086
This is a direct replacement for the original- comes with a bracket but it fits in the original one. The head is a little different than the old one which had a protective wire frame but otherwise identical. It is wired for the engine stop system and has the correct plug. Simple install. $343 out the door and fast shipping.
So, the question isn’t “why did Hunter install these?” Rather, it’s why didn’t all the other major boat manufacturers (beneteau, Catalina , etc), do the same.
The answer is that Hunter spent more money on their boats installing very valuable items which nobody would see at a boat show when considering what boat to buy. An example of this was that Hunter was the last production company to have lead keels. All of their competitors had cast iron years before hunter finally had to discontinue lead to stay cost competitive.
On my 49 a $3500 mains isolation transformer was standard equipment. The Selden in mast furling is a much better system than the ZSpars used by the other builders. It costs more, but it’s worth it.
Yes, having a hole in your engine cover to shoot a fire extinguisher through would work. But, by the time you realized you had a fire to put out, the Seafire system would have done that automatically. I prefer that option.
must have been a fairly recent thing, my 2001 has a "hole in the cover"
My engine start problems have all been due to the location of the start relay causing a wire to get messed up. I finally just replaced the relay with a standard cube relay and mounted in in a better location.
My engine start problems have all been due to the location of the start relay causing a wire to get messed up. I finally just replaced the relay with a standard cube relay and mounted in in a better location.