If you think it can't happen.

[azazzera]

Not that any one would realy dismiss the possibility of a non ingnition protected devise could ignite gas vapors that's exactly what happened on the east end of Long Island today. Clearing the residual water out of bildge and there obviously was enough gasoline vapors present to ignite and cause an explosion. Luckily hatches were open. Nothing life threatening. Three victims. I emediatly thought of what many have warned about on this sight. It's just timely for me having just gotten my boat in yesterday. I will be getting that blower installed first thing. Very thankful for all the excellent advice I get here.

[toddster]

Hmm... I had assumed that all bilge pumps would be ignition protected. And float switches? Of course none of us would attempt to discharge fuel anyway...

Believe me, after I discovered a fuel leak last week, I cut all power to the boat and Very Carefully cleaned the bilge. And hosed out that inaccessible sump under the motor. And left the hatches and bilge hatches open for a couple of days. Fortunately, one of my suppliers uses those synthetic fuel-absorbent pads as packing material, so I have stacks of them around.

[BunnyPlanet169]

UL listed bilge pump yes, large shop vac or electric drill not so much....

[azazzera]

Just for background, this happened at a yard. They were useing a external sump type pump to pump out residual water after pulling a plug. Must have had fuel leak. Burn victim had 21 years at the yard. As my sister says, safety's no accident!!!! Never bad ide to take that extra few steps to make sure it's safe.

[ndutton]

I could tell ya some stories from the boat plants with acetone rather than gasoline. Three come immediately to mind.

The first place I worked issued pneumatic tools to us: drills, screw guns, sawzalls, jigsaws, sanders & grinders, all pneumatic. Electric tools were not allowed, period. It was odd that as we worked the tools hard they got ice cold, even painful to hold, exactly the opposite of electric tools.

[sastanley]

When my boat sprung a leak in the fuel tank, and several gallons went in the bilge, all battery connections were disconnected with the batt switch at "OFF", and all fluid, including the copious amounts of water added to dilute the fuel as advised by an airplane mech Navy Chief, was bailed by hand in 5 gallon buckets from the bilge to the disposal area using cups & sponges.