#51
IP: 71.181.37.6
|
|||
|
|||
Thanks Mo
You are right of course. The best thing is to keep an eye on all the things that you listed, which I do. When running every hour or so I try to check on the engine by physically looking, I also carry a gasoline fume detector and lots of extinquishers , in cockpit lazarette, galley, and engine area. But if, as you mentioned ,and I have seen it first hand on another boat, A gasoline fire starts it can be very very dangerous. The result was severe life threatening burns and a boat that burned to the waterline. This is also a good reason to have a sufficient inflatable boat along when coasting. The case in point above resulted from someone doing wiring repairs in the presence of fumes and with power on. It would just be something of peace of mind to have a way to quickly and remotely deal with the unthinkable without having to enter the cabin. Best Regards Art |
#52
IP: 24.224.206.117
|
||||
|
||||
We had a bad one on a Cape Islander about 10 yrs ago....working on gas engine in boat and the guy lights up a cigarette...blew the deck right of the boat, landed them both in the water critical condition. They both knew better.
__________________
Mo "Odyssey" 1976 C&C 30 MKI The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The realist adjusts the sails. ...Sir William Arthur Ward. |
#53
IP: 71.168.64.84
|
|||
|
|||
FireBoy HFC227
Hi Guys
I just received a Fireboy HFC227 3.5 lbs extinquisher today. It is specified to handle 75 Cubic Feet. My engine box is approximately 2ft by 3.5 ft by 3.5 ft. So It should be enough. Several problems to solve. the battery compartment containing 4 large batteries is outboard of the center keel mounted engine compartment it is similar in size to the engine box. The gasoline tank is also under the same settee and is just after of the battery compartment and the engine box. There is zero room in the engine box for the extinquisher. I had thought of putting it in the battery compartment adjacent to the engine box. There is only a couple of access cutouts for the battery cables between the engine box and the batteries. There is also not a lot of room for the extinquisher but may be possible to fit. I had originally thought of added a extended metal hose to the output of the extinquisher, but after reading the caviats on handling am not sure I want to do that. The unit is equiped for both manual and automatic use. I bought a 12 ft remote cable with it for manual use from the cockpit. Fireboy recommends shutting down the engine as well as blowers when using it. Not sure how to do this immediately without forgetting in the heat of the emergency. Also and importantly, the automatic extinquisher is set to go off at 175 degrees F which alarms me because the engine routinely runs at nearly 180 and can sometimes when pushed go higher. Don't want activation for a routine boil over. I wonder how close the extinquisher can be to the standpipe box and engine without getting too hot? I also note that fireboy recommends not mounting the extinquisher 90 degrees to the keel on a saiboat ( not sure what this means ) They also state that the nozzle must be higher than the bottle or worse case horizontal. Mounted on the hull side of the battery box it would have to be horizontal and probably below the bottle bottom when heeled. I had considered mounting it in the space where the navstation and electrical switches are located ( which is just aft of battery compartment) and cutting a small access hole to allow contents to spray into battery compartment and (hopefully) reach engine. Comments and suggestions greatly appreciated. I would plan to activate it with the remote cable if necessary, maybe automatic was not a good feature. Best Regards and thanks Art Ps boat is now afloat!!! |
#54
IP: 71.168.64.84
|
|||
|
|||
Attention Neil and All
HI guys
Would really appreciate input on the Fireboy extinquisher so I can decide whether or not it can be safely installed. Thanks very very much Art |
#55
IP: 24.152.131.155
|
||||
|
||||
My $0.02
I searched online and found the installation instructions. Essentially this is the same as the old Halon systems with a different smothering gas and as I understand it, there are four things to consider:
__________________
Neil 1977 Catalina 30 San Pedro, California prior boats 1987 Westsail 32, 1970 Catalina 22 Had my hands in a few others |
#56
IP: 71.168.64.84
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
Unfortunately, I do not have room in the tiny Tartan34C engine box for the extinquisher. Additionally, I am concerned about the ambient temperature inside this tiny box reaching over 175 degrees easily in normal operation. Bottom line: It's a nice unit if you can safely install it which I cannot. The hazard outweighs it's value, so I am going to return it. Thanks again and best Regards Art |
#57
IP: 206.125.176.5
|
||||
|
||||
Art, My buddy's fancy Beneslow 343 has a simple plastic one-way hole cut into the stairs for jamming an extinguisher into the engine box. Anyway to remotely mount the system and plumb it into the engine box that way?
Art, on second thought, I googled "fire extinguisher port", and found this good Boat US article which says blindly spraying into an engine box is useless, unless it is a gaseous type that removes the oxygen. http://www.boatus.com/seaworthy/swybf.asp
__________________
-Shawn "Holiday" - '89 Alura 35 #109 "Twice Around" - '77 C-30, #511 with original A-4 & MMI manifold - SOLD! (no longer a two boat owner!!) Last edited by sastanley; 05-24-2012 at 09:19 AM. Reason: add link |
#58
IP: 71.168.64.84
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
has the engine sitting in the middle of the main salon under a small settee and half buried in the bilge. There is no adjacent bulkhead other than the battery box which is jammed full. I have returned the Extinquisher to Hamilton Marine for credit. Best Regards and Thanks Art |
#59
IP: 68.56.139.11
|
||||
|
||||
As far as I know, Halon production was stopped in 1994. But maybe I dont know. Many guys here know a lot more then me.
Art, my T 34 engine compartment gets very hot. So hot that it gets scary. I open cover and use additional fans when I motor for long periods. Back about 12 years ago, one guy with a t 34 had what he said was a "halon system" in the engine cover. I saw an extinguisher mounted in the engine cover where the top meets the side. It had an "automatic" release that looked a bit like a sprinkler, to my memory. I have had some experience with sensors, and have found them to be unreliable. I dont even use my propane sensor because it goes off for no reason. It seems moisture causes it to alarm. Imagine moisture on a boat? I had a gas sensor that was totally useless. I even tried a CO detector but have no faith in it. fair winds |
#60
IP: 108.4.61.32
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
What amazed me is how incredibly expensive a new version of that extinguisher is.
__________________
- Bill T. - Richmond, VA Relentless pursuer of lost causes |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Seized engine turns over!...but.... | mbettman | Troubleshooting | 10 | 10-28-2010 05:11 AM |