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Post by Fogg on Mar 8, 2022 13:13:41 GMT 12
A couple of sailing channels have covered fire onboard recently and it got me thinking about beefing up defences against this awful scenario.
For example, whilst I have plenty of fire extinguishers onboard I’ve realised that we don’t have any smoke detectors (that I’m aware of).
How well prepared are other people?
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Post by dutyfree on Mar 8, 2022 13:24:46 GMT 12
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2022 13:33:05 GMT 12
I have a fire blankie, 2 x extinguishers, gas sniffer and a pessimistic attitude about my ability to deal with an onboard fire so I am pendantic with big letters about this subject.
Bit of a drift but not intentionally trying to derail OP - aside from an engine exhaust issue what other items on a boat would/could lead to a carbon monoxide issue? And, is CO a gas that 'floats' or 'sinks' (like LPG, before it go boom).
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Post by fish on Mar 8, 2022 13:37:44 GMT 12
I have a fire blankie, 2 x extinguishers, gas sniffer and a pessimistic attitude about my ability to deal with an onboard fire so I am pendantic with big letters about this subject. Bit of a drift but not intentionally trying to derail OP - aside from an engine exhaust issue what other items on a boat would/could lead to a carbon monoxide issue? And, is CO a gas that 'floats' or 'sinks' (like LPG, before it go boom). Engine exhaust and stove are the mostly sources of CO. Stoves are the biggest risk by a long way I think. In ships, it is possible to get CO in confined spaces like cargo holds. Anything that can respirate can do it. Fruit, logs. I think 2 sailors died a year or two back at Marsden point in the hold of a log ship. They didn't realise the logs can still consume O2. In those industrial confined space incidence, it is normal for 2 or 3 people to die. The first one goes in to do the job. Collapses. His mate tries to get him out. Collapses. His mate tries to get him out.... Collapses.... |
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Post by fish on Mar 8, 2022 13:44:55 GMT 12
I recently replaced my fire extinguishers. They can show as fully charged but not work. The dry powder type, the powder packs down with vibration. Like on a boat, with engine and waves and stuff. I also have 2 fire blankets. One in the galley, the other at the other end of the boat (near the forecabin). Likewise, the main fire ex is in the deck locker (get to safety first, then worry about tackling the fire), the other is near the forecabin.
I also like to keep to exits available. The stove, engine, batteries and most of the wiring is in the vicinity of the main hatch. We have a standard hatch on the forepeak, which would be the plan B escape route.
My primary approach would be to evacuate. The chances of dealing with a fire downstairs must be between zero and fuck all. My main concern would be toxic smoke, and needing to enter or exit exactly where the smoke comes out (via the hatch). So I have a HH VHF in the cockpit, and tend to have a PLB in the cockpit also. We used to have the main EPIRB permanently mounted downstairs, above the stove, which I think is about as useful as tits on a bull. The battery expired so I replaced it with 2xPLB's. I wear one on my person when short handing. The added benefit is I have no need to try and go downstairs if a fire breaks out. PS, wont need flares if your boat is burning that much - but they are in the cockpit locker also, with the fire ex, just beside the gas bottle ;-)
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Post by fish on Mar 8, 2022 13:52:17 GMT 12
Has anyone every had a fire or near miss on a boat?
Black Panther had one recently. I can't remember what it was, but he had to let off a fire ex. Wiring I think. Just under his paint locker. So the fire ex did work.
I don't have the rest of the details, cause, well, they are so scared of what I think, they banned me.
Also, anyone every played with a fire blanket? It is like a sheet of fibreglass mat really. Be interesting to try it in anger.
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Post by Fogg on Mar 8, 2022 14:19:30 GMT 12
I think it be a great idea to get a few people together, light a fire somewhere safe and practise using a fire ex and a blanket to see how well they work.
Talking of which - are there any beaches left where you can light a fire in NZ without the fire police telling you it’s against the rules?
Talking of which - are there any beaches left with no rules…?
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Post by fish on Mar 8, 2022 14:36:03 GMT 12
I think it be a great idea to get a few people together, light a fire somewhere safe and practise using a fire ex and a blanket to see how well they work. Talking of which - are there any beaches left where you can light a fire in NZ without the fire police telling you it’s against the rules? Talking of which - are there any beaches left with no rules…? You just need a back yard and a roasting dish full of diesel. I've got 2 old fire ex's, off the boat. Keen to see if they work. Same goes for letting off flares. I used to let flares off for work, until we had to do risk assessments on everything. Mush more violent than firecrackers... Valuable to know how they go bang when you need them to. |
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Post by fish on Mar 8, 2022 14:39:05 GMT 12
Is there a course available? that way you wouldn't have to worry about loosing your eyebrows while learning how not to loose your eyebrows.
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Post by dutyfree on Mar 8, 2022 14:43:46 GMT 12
I have a fire blankie, 2 x extinguishers, gas sniffer and a pessimistic attitude about my ability to deal with an onboard fire so I am pendantic with big letters about this subject. Bit of a drift but not intentionally trying to derail OP - aside from an engine exhaust issue what other items on a boat would/could lead to a carbon monoxide issue? And, is CO a gas that 'floats' or 'sinks' (like LPG, before it go boom). diesel heaters as well. So good to have a detector during winter boating.
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Post by dutyfree on Mar 8, 2022 15:41:15 GMT 12
we have 4 fire extinguishers, cockpit, engine room, saloon, and forward. Fire blanket too
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Post by Cantab on Mar 8, 2022 17:28:44 GMT 12
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2022 18:37:08 GMT 12
Anyone actually used a fire extinguisher?? Used one once and not quite as they say.Aim at base yeah right .All that did was through the fire further a field,seems the pressure is too great.A fire blanket might be the go.Through on fire to contain then hit with extiguisher.
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Post by ComfortZone on Mar 8, 2022 19:42:11 GMT 12
I have 2 sets of extinguishers, 3 dry powder of various sizes and 3 climate destroying ozone depleting yellow BCF (Halon) extinguishers. Why keep the latter, because in spite of many millions being spent looking for alternatives there is nothing better and they are still the extinguisher of choice in aviation. www.faa.gov/documentlibrary/media/advisory_circular/ac_120-80a.pdfIt is still legal to possess one and use it on a fire in NZ (not so in Australia other than for aviation use), the only challenge being you cannot get them serviced. I weigh mine at the local vege shop every year (they have accurate scales) to verify there has been no loss of gas. Dry powder is the just about the worst extinguishant to use on an electrical fire, Halon is best followed by CO2. It is a shame you cannot buy portable Halon replacement(Halotron, FM211 etc) extinguishers here. Not as good as the original but far better than dry powder. By the way foam is best on a diesel fire. |
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Post by fish on Mar 8, 2022 20:34:39 GMT 12
I have 2 sets of extinguishers, 3 dry powder of various sizes and 3 climate destroying ozone depleting yellow BCF (Halon) extinguishers. Why keep the latter, because in spite of many millions being spent looking for alternatives there is nothing better and they are still the extinguisher of choice in aviation. www.faa.gov/documentlibrary/media/advisory_circular/ac_120-80a.pdfIt is still legal to possess one and use it on a fire in NZ (not so in Australia other than for aviation use), the only challenge being you cannot get them serviced. I weigh mine at the local vege shop every year (they have accurate scales) to verify there has been no loss of gas. Dry powder is the just about the worst extinguishant to use on an electrical fire, Halon is best followed by CO2. It is a shame you cannot buy portable Halon replacement(Halotron, FM211 etc) extinguishers here. Not as good as the original but far better than dry powder. By the way foam is best on a diesel fire. These are really good points, and something I think is a problem. If something on my boat (or house) catches fire, I aren't going to stop and read the fine print on the extinguisher... I am fairly sure all of my extinguishers are dry powder. This is because they are cheap. And because they are cheap, I am fairly sure they are about the only type stocked by Bunnings and the like. I might actually go and read the fine print now. Supplementary Question: Who has a bung hole in the engine box to poke an extinguisher in without opening the lid? Or, a means to shut off all air supply to the engine box - good for suffocating a fire but also potentially useful if you get a run-away engine. I sealed the engine box with sound proofing, and fitted a ducted ventilation system with blower fan. Near the inlet I have a piece of plywood I can shut off the air supply with. Kind of the same as the wooden pegs you keep by the seacocks. |
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