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  #1   IP: 99.246.103.35
Old 07-14-2015, 09:26 AM
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Explosion

I understand that this is incredibly rare, but its a good reminder to run the blower for a while....

Looks like it used to be a C&C27

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-...atineau-marina
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  #2   IP: 207.118.20.35
Old 07-14-2015, 11:06 AM
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glad he's okay

I'm guessing propane as the initial source. A bilge with gasoline fumes in it smells like gasoline, and is easier to detect. I once saw a guy in an anchorage pour what looked like buckets of air out of his bilge over the side for hours, said he had a propane leak. Did not want to turn on the blower for fear of ignition. Yikes! Origo alcohol stove and diesel heater for me.
Use your blower. Especially your nose, before turning any switch, if the boat has been closed up for a while. Of course, a boat full of fumes could explode just by stepping on the deck and setting off the bilge pump. Turn the shut-off valve in the fuel line before leaving the boat.
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Old 07-14-2015, 11:12 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by capnward View Post
I'm guessing propane as the initial source. A bilge with gasoline fumes in it smells like gasoline, and is easier to detect. I once saw a guy in an anchorage pour what looked like buckets of air out of his bilge over the side for hours, said he had a propane leak. Did not want to turn on the blower for fear of ignition. Yikes! Origo alcohol stove and diesel heater for me.
Use your blower. Especially your nose, before turning any switch, if the boat has been closed up for a while. Of course, a boat full of fumes could explode just by stepping on the deck and setting off the bilge pump. Turn the shut-off valve in the fuel line before leaving the boat.
+1 to that - triple check multiple shut off points in your fuel system, and if your boat is stinky every time you arrive consider one of those solar/battery powered fan ventilation units.
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Old 07-14-2015, 06:27 PM
JOHN COOKSON JOHN COOKSON is offline
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If the engine doesn't start don't grind on the starter. Check it out. Perhaps the reason the engine doesn't start is because no gas is getting to the engine because the fuel line has come loose or ruptured. You might be lucky and land in the water when the boat blows up like the guy that I saw. It was quite dramatic. Just about dusk. I could feel the heat from the fire ball.

TRUE GRIT
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Old 07-15-2015, 02:25 AM
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If there is gas on a boat you should smell it. Absolutely no hint of gas or engine oil smell in my boat when I go aboard. I've gone aboard others and just said "you have a gas leak" "diesel leak" or whatever. Never walk on the boat with an ignition source such as a cigarette between your teeth....I was lucky once. About 10 years ago we had a power boat explosion occur at one of the yacht clubs here in the city. Guy was working on his converted fishing boat motor, gas, and they ignited fumes turning it over. Blew the deck off, both blown into the water from below deck, both critical condition. They were promptly pulled from the water by other members of their club. Brings a whole new perspective to "all is lost".

Here's a thread we had on the go a while back. http://www.moyermarine.com//forums/s...ighlight=grace

Showing a pic of a burned boat is just a reminder...boats can burn. I liken it to a saftey guy showing pic of some accident scene and trying to drive a point home. Some of these guys don't get it that it's the simple things we do, and don't do, that count.
-no ignition source as we go aboard.
-open the boat up and use your nose as you go through the motions.
-use blowers and other safety devices...but that NOSE is crucial. If I smell gas I won't even turn on the power.
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Old 07-15-2015, 09:02 AM
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Two shut off valves, one on the tank, one just before the carb. Open all the hatches, etc., including the cockpit hatches! Turn on the blower! Sniff the blower air for gas smells. No propane on board...just that sweet little Origo! Turn the key...the A4 starts right up...She's only 50 years old!! Go Sailing! And don't allow anyone who smokes on board.....ever!
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Old 07-15-2015, 10:36 AM
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Teflon Tape and Gasoline?

Post #4 refers you to a previous thread, Post #10 of that tread shows Ndutton's valve configuration that appears to use teflon tape at the fittings.

I seem to recall our host Don saying in another tread that teflon tape should not be used on gasoline fittings, or was it exhaust fittings?
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Old 07-15-2015, 01:30 PM
zellerj zellerj is offline
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teflon tape

Teflon tape is stable in gasoline. The issue is that small bits can break off when screwing in the fitting, and these small bits can flow downstream and block the jet or cause the float valve to leak. I am sure Neil flushed his system. Also pieces of black hose can break lose while putting it on the hose barb.
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Old 07-15-2015, 01:30 PM
Dave Neptune Dave Neptune is online now
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I saw a power boat blow up on Lake Havasu many years ago. It was horrific to witness and I did that from a distance looking over a berm from about 200 feet away. I saw the deck of the boat and many people in the air with the boats deck and flame of the explosion above the berm and roof of the gas dock. I pulled 3 bodies and two survivors from the water, the dad who died in the chopper on the way to the hospital and his son missing a leg which I dove for and got into the chopper. There were 11 on the boat and 6 died. Bodies landed on docks and boats in the marina across from the gas dock. As I stated it was horrific and impressed me for life regarding gasoline safety.

I stayed in touch with the family and they did reattach the kids leg just below the knee. He was 4 at the time and had partial use of the leg.

The explosion was on a 115 degree day and was traced to a faulty (cracked) vent line. They had just filled her up and were waiting for the kid and uncle to get out of the bait shop. They did not run the blower and just hit the key, well with a bunch of raw gas and fumes in the bilge and engines box when he hit the key it sounded like dynamite.

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Old 07-15-2015, 03:05 PM
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Hello all,

This accident happened across the river from where I sail. It is an odd accident as the mechanic is very experienced and likely would have smelled gas, so could well be propane! That Marina is also renowned for its mechanics and experience with boats. Haven't heard more from fire dept. yet.

The mechanic was in shock and lost hair and skin (and a tatoo) but will be okay. Will post details if there is a follow-up story.

Cheers,

Maurice
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Old 07-16-2015, 06:32 AM
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The photo showed a boat in what looked like a lock for a canal, so the entire boat was surrounded by high walls. Running the blower would just dump gas fumes into this area and not get rid of them
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Old 07-16-2015, 12:20 PM
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Joe, they towed her away from other boat to the ramp where she couldn't spread to other boats. I know a guy there. Mechanic was doing maintenance clicked the key to fire her up and she went poof.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa...iver-1.3148029
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Old 07-16-2015, 02:33 PM
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Do we know for sure what type of engine/fuel?

And yeah, I use teflon tape on fuel fittings. I'm careful to keep it on the threads and not over the end. I've never ever had an issue.
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Old 07-16-2015, 02:47 PM
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If that C&C is anything like mine, the original tank and hoses were a ticking time bomb. My tank rusted through the bottom and ethanol ate the fill hose and the 90 degree rubber fitting that seemed to be a re-purposed sink drain fitting of some kind.
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Old 07-16-2015, 04:04 PM
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I keep my boat there in the winter and Marc has often worked on it for me. I am told he is on the mend.
I understand it was a gasoline leak, not propane.
Hoping he's hale and hearty again soon.
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Old 07-17-2015, 12:06 AM
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Wouldn't it be a good idea to put a relay switch in the starter circuit that is activated by the blower switch? This way, if the blower is not on, the starter switch does nothing. I'm surprised this isn't a standard requirement.
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Old 07-17-2015, 01:30 AM
JOHN COOKSON JOHN COOKSON is offline
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The Nose That Knows

Quote:
Originally Posted by Loki9 View Post
Wouldn't it be a good idea to put a relay switch in the starter circuit that is activated by the blower switch? This way, if the blower is not on, the starter switch does nothing. I'm surprised this isn't a standard requirement.
Also it would be a good idea to put a relay on your nose because if you don't sniff the blower exhaust and\or check the engine\bilge area for fumes and there is an invertant fuel leak it will go BOOM despite the blower.
Sniffing for gas fumes before each engine start is SOP (standard operating procedure) on my boat.

TRUE GRIT
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Old 07-17-2015, 07:25 AM
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Don't forget the Xintex fume sniffer. Mine is interfaced with the blower, it automatically evacuates any combustible fumes detected by the sensor. I keep it armed at all times.
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Old 07-17-2015, 08:33 AM
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Here is a danger not realized by everyone:
Gasoline does a fair job numbing your sense of smell. I once read of an old trick used my people that had to haul dead bodies around that was to rub gasoline under your nose.
So.....when you fill your boat with gas you will smell gas. If even a drop spills on you the smell is wherever you go too. It will not be obvious there are fumes in the boat because you smell gas anyway. When my fill hose elbow split I had filled the boat and obviously smelled gas from that and my hand. I was running the blower and thought maybe-sorta-kinda there was an odor. I put my hands around the vent and really smelled the output. It seemed to smell like gas for sure so I checked the bilge. About 2 gallons in the tank and three in the bilge
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Old 07-17-2015, 11:40 AM
JOHN COOKSON JOHN COOKSON is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by joe_db View Post
was running the blower and thought maybe-sorta-kinda there was an odor. I put my hands around the vent and really smelled the output. It seemed to smell like gas for sure so I checked the bilge. :
More better to stick your nose almost in the vent and suck in a good lung full. This is what I do. With just a sniff you could miss something important.

TRUE GRIT
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Old 10-28-2015, 07:56 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ndutton View Post
Don't forget the Xintex fume sniffer. Mine is interfaced with the blower, it automatically evacuates any combustible fumes detected by the sensor. I keep it armed at all times.
I will have to look into this idea when I install mine. How do you have it wired into the blower circuit?
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Old 10-28-2015, 08:02 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GregH View Post
I will have to look into this idea when I install mine. How do you have it wired into the blower circuit?
The Xintex MB-1-R has a relay specifically for blower interface (the 'B' in the model number = 'blower'). I wired the relay parallel to the blower switch, power source for both the normal switch and the relay is the same as the detector, that is, on all the time.

If you are thinking that way be sure to get the correct model.

edit:
The power source for my CNG solenoid valve is the same as the Xintex. In no way can I use cooking fuel without the sniffer armed.
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Last edited by ndutton; 11-15-2015 at 05:31 PM.
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Old 04-07-2016, 11:38 AM
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Pretty sure an Atomic 4 didn't cause this fire...

http://www.yachtsalvage.com/Listings...078.htm#photos
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