CO2 fire extinguishers

**hanleyclifford** · 04-27-2011, 08:48 AM

If you don't need it to count on USCG inspection you could mount it in a cockpit locker with a pull ring. I just have mine mounted on the sole in the head (they are heavy). I have Halon auto system in the engine room but if I didn't I would do exactly what you are contemplating. Make sure you have sufficient dry chemical units for the coast guard to count and check off.

Mo · 04-27-2011, 03:12 PM

I keep four 10 pounder fire ext on the boat. There are also 2 of those small 5 lbs (the 5 lb ones are older but the 10lbs ones are all within 2 years old). The 5 pounders came with the boat.

10 pounders at Costco for $39 each.

- 10 lb in the Stb locker and its pointed in the engine area. Pull pin and push.
- 10 lb in cabin on Stb side.
- 10 lb at base of mast inside cabin.
- 10 lb Prt Locker...no special reason except to have it close.
- 5 lb mounted in closet/ locker hanger on wall.
- 5 lb mounted base of step coming into cabin area.

**hanleyclifford** · 04-27-2011, 05:08 PM

The one thing to remember about CO2 is that they must be inspected each year which is an expensive PITA. For this reason you should have the dry chemical available for the USCG to inspect.

Mo · 04-27-2011, 06:06 PM

Hanley and Joe,

My mistake. Mine are all dry chemical, not CO2. Sorry for any confusion. I keep 10 pounders on because we need some "umph" to put out a fire.

**jstaff** · 04-27-2011, 06:12 PM

It will require some additional "umph" for the cleanup ...

Mo · 04-27-2011, 06:30 PM

Fire Extinguisher Working???

Hey guys, really sobering subject started here. Maybe we can save someone a disaster.

OK...little story....

A club member put a battery and mast stay in the trunk of his car. The stay arc'd across both battery terminals and caught the trunk of his Lexus on fire.

I ran for my boat and shouted to a firefighter / friend to grab a fire ext from his boat as he was close. I knew the 10 pounders were on my boat but had to run a few hundred feet to get one.

My friend John, Capt Firefighter, took his 5 pounder off his boat and ran up to the car. It wouldn't work. When I got back with the 10 pounder dry chem she was showing flame....opened up and dumped the whole thing into the flame.... fire out.

The 5 pounder?? --- looked alright but he couldn't squeeze to activate it. It showed "full" in the "green" but was seized. Even though our extinguishers may read full, prolonged exposure to our marine environments may cause the activation mechanism to seize. His had the plastic type squeeze handle (typically bought at marine outlets)....we both fooled around with it after the incident and finally got it to discharge... without any control of direction.

The guy whose car we saved was very appreciative. He immediately asked for my extinguisher and insisted on putting a new one on the boat right away. I told him I bought it at COSTCO and off he went. When he came back he had 3 new 10 pounders. 2 for me and 1 for John. Initially, I had 3 on the boat and that's how I ended up with the 4th.

Fire! - Ensure your extinguisher will work
- Ensure it is big enough to put out a decent size fire. Personally I think all of us should have at least 1 ten pounder aboard.

Mo · 04-27-2011, 06:41 PM

jstaff

You are right about the clean up. I coated the whole trunk, back-end of that car, and myself with a nice white coating that day. LOL

Then the FD and Police show up, I'm covered in white having a beer....not a word said about my beer....the Fire Crew is razzing John because his extinguisher didn't work. There was no way he could have know it would fail....they razzed him something about "having to get the MEDICS to put out the fire" Medics always call Fire/Rescue for help....Fire never calls medics to battle blazes....something like that.

**lat 64** · 04-29-2011, 12:20 PM

Beer has C02

Just an observation; Would you sacrifice your beer if the extinguisher did not work?

Good post, Time to get mine all checked out.

r.

Mo · 04-29-2011, 01:09 PM

Russ,

Sacrifice a beer to put out a fire in a "Lexus".....I don't think so. I'd shake up a couple if it was his boat though. (chuckling)

Mo · 05-01-2011, 08:07 PM

Attached are a few pics of the extinguishers on Odyssey. I have no idea how old the white ones are as they came with the boat. Kept them aboard as I do old flares...you never know. The red ones (10 lb'ers) are all between 2 and 4 years old. When discharged it is just as well to buy a new one...less running around and you know what you have.

Attached Files