[Public-List] fire aboard boats

[Don Campbell via Public-List]

    We have lost an American 50 foot sail boat in Lake Erie this week to fire.  For a photo, see http://www.simcoereformer.ca/2015/07/17/sailboat-catches-fire-sinks-on-lake-erie


    I doubt this was a gasoline powered vessel, so safety for any fuel source is still Number One. What are some of the things that were not mentioned in the article on the loss of the Alberg last week?  First, there is no provision in law to have an outboard powered from anything but a portable (steel)  fuel tank. Second there was no mention as to the hoses or pipes  used for the main auxiliary motor or the maintenance of that motor. It sounded as if an outboard were used primarily  because there were issues with the built in auxiliary motor.  Carburetor problems come to mind first in Atomic 4s,  with sticky float valves and possible varnish build up. Both problems can result in fuel leaks or over supply, especially if the ignition system is not working . No mention was made of the effects of ethanol on the fuel system plumbing for either motor, although it was said that the bulb for the fuel  prime on the outboard was not the usual.   If the piping were not metal, then having stiff hoses from ethanol is not the best of maintenance practice. Good spark plugs, points and condenser and ignition wiring are not just things to talk about, but having them is part of the programme. If people take matters into their own hands for fire safety, contrary to experience and laws predicated by that experience, then bad things happen again. It is fortunate that this owner did talk about his experience, because it wakens us all up. 

    As for fire extinguishers, they all need to be inspected annually,  - by law in Canada,  at least. This applies to those in boats as well as buildings. This means that an inspector has to attach a card to that extinguisher with a colour coded band to indicate the year of inspection. It is a simple chore to take these units in to a fire safety company to have that done in the off season. Most ABC extinguishers have dry powder in them.  It is a relatively easy test to see if that material has set up and is solid. Just tip the unit end over end. You should be able to both hear and feel weight shifting within. Realistically, having the required compliment of extinguishers aboard is probably not enough to quash a fire with any headway. Extras may be a good thing. The other consideration is to have them in a place that is accessible when a fire does start and a way to get the chemicals to the fire. This is not easy with most sail boat engine compartments and restricted mounting places accessible to the cockpit.

   Just some things to consider before rather than after a fire. The other thing that I think you will find is that diesels burn just as regularly as gas engines. often because of greater complacency with diesel fuel being a lower volatility and more difficult to ignite. Once ignited though, diesel will burn just as easily as gas, but not explosively. For fires to happen, there need to be three things: fuel, oxygen and ignition. Two are easily controlled, fuel and ignition. Be careful with liquids  that are fuels, because resins are just has happy being fuels as boat forms as the picture above indicates.
Don