[Public-List] Loss of an Alberg 30

[GLENN P via Public-List]

i lost a fishing boat this way back in the 70's. its why I always go with diesel... 

anyway, I am told by a surveyor that one can turn old extinguishers on end and shake/tap/beat them on the deck till the powder comes loose. You can hear the powder rattling around inside the extinguisher when it is loose- hence will shoot out the nozzle when you pull the pin and trigger it. 

gpb 

----- Original Message -----

From: "Jon Budington via Public-List" <public-list at lists.alberg30.org> 
To: "Gordon Laco" <mainstay at csolve.net>, "Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all" <public-list at lists.alberg30.org> 
Sent: Monday, July 13, 2015 2:20:43 PM 
Subject: Re: [Public-List] Loss of an Alberg 30 

My insurance company required an inspection/extinguisher access port on my engine cover after my last survey. It was easy to do and sure makes sense after reading this. 

________________________________________ 
From: Public-List <public-list-bounces at lists.alberg30.org> on behalf of Gordon Laco via Public-List <public-list at lists.alberg30.org> 
Sent: Monday, July 13, 2015 3:34 PM 
To: Avery Boyer; Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all 
Subject: Re: [Public-List] Loss of an Alberg 30 

Terrible story! 

So what I take away from this is... 

1. no compromises whatsoever are tolerable with regard to fuel leaks 
2. don't put the extinguisher where a fire may be 
3. don't carry extra fuel in containers below decks 
4. all electrical switches must be marine 'vapour proof' to minimize the 
chances of flipping one may cause an ignition spark. 

Question - I wonder what sort of electric fuel pump set up did he have? Was 
he using it to force fuel to the outboard's otherwise clogged system? 

These are important issues and I'm glad the fellow was so forthcoming with 
the details of his experience. 

I'm impressed that he had so many extinguishers... SURPRISE only carries 
two. I was aboard a sailing ship that had small access ports about one inch 
in diameter (covered by little brass swivel plates) that allow one to look 
into a compartment where they may be fire without opening it and letting a 
lot of air in. I'm certainly going to carry forward my thought to fit them 
into our motor hatch. 

When we first got SURPRISE she used to flood the pan beneath her engine with 
gasoline regularly due to drips from the carb when specks of dirt clogged 
the needle valve. Since I installed a second fuel filter this hasn't 
happened, and we've been religious about shutting off the fuel at the tank 
when the engine is not running. Reading that fellow's story makes me think 
how lucky I was in that first year. 

And of course one shouldn't forget that with regard to potential for 
disaster, gasoline in a boat is nearly as dangerous as propane... 

Gord #426 Surprise 


On 13/07/15 2:41 PM, "Avery Boyer via Public-List" 
<public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote: 

> Don't think this has been posted yet. This is a very sad account of the 
> loss of an Alberg due to a gas fire offshore. Fortunately the skipper and 
> his dog survived. While not necessarily Alberg-specific, the gentleman's 
> account of the fire is worth reading. A grim reminder for those of us with 
> gas inboards (and outboards) that, while fires are rare, they are 
> inherently more dangerous than those involving diesel powered boats. 
> 
> http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1867840#post1867840 
> 
> Avery 
> 


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