Gasoline + Propane = Bang !

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS- For those of you fortunate enough to have taken part in a hands on extinguisher demonstration you will quickly learn of the inadequacy of the 2 - 5lb. units most of us are required to have on board. A 10lb. extinguisher will give about 25 seconds of use. If you have no experience with these units it's unlikely you will put out much of a fire. Buy the biggest units you can fit on your boat and learn how to use them. American Boat & Yacht Council ® "Fire fighting Equipment" Standards require that extinguishers be inspected annually and carry a tag indicating last date of inspection. I rarely find current inspection tags while surveying. When did you last have your's inspected. In the course of a marine survey I do not inspect loose gear (including non-permanent extinguishers) howver the following items I consider critical for all boat surveys. EXHAUST BLOWERS- ABYC® Standards call for each engine to have an exhaust duct lead from the lower 1/3 of the engine compartment or 12" from the bottom (yet be above the normal accumulation of bilge water) and be directly under each gasoline engine. It is not unusual to find intake ducts at this low level and the exhaust ducts up high or exhaust and intake ducts sharing the same plenum so that all they do is recirculate the same air or one blower servicing two engines and a generator. Most gasoline powered boats that I survey have ventilation systems that are totally inadequate. Make sure you understand your ventilation system and call a surveyor if in doubt. FIRE PORTS - Another ABYC® Standard calls for a small ( about 2"dia.) access port to the engine compartment, positioned on a vertical surface through which the hose of an extinguisher may be inserted. This prevents having to open the main hatches, lessening crew exposure and denying extra oxygen to the fire. They are simple and inexpensive to install with off the shelf parts and worth the effort. Fire ports are impractical on express style cruisers because there is no vertical surface on which to install one, I firmly believe that automatic systems should be mandatory on this type of boat. ELECTRICAL - ABYC® Standards prohibit the use of automotive type battery chargers in gasoline engine compartments as they are not ignition protected, the AC / DC circuits are not isolated allowing for potential AC in your DC circuitry and the "alligator" clip connectors can slip off causing a spark. Do not place a battery charger or inverter directly above batteries as batteries emit explosive, corrosive and lighter than air hydrogen gas while charging. If you have a 120volt outlet in you gasoline engine compartment ... get it out ! It is not ignition protected. Make sure your batteries are secured horizontally and vertically and provided with ventilation outside of the accommodation spaces and that battery boxes are impervious to electrolyte. Short circuits from dropped tools are a common occurrence, cover the positive terminals with protective boots. Clean or replace corroded terminals, Do not make connections with wire nuts. Wherever splash or spray is likely 120volt outlets should be of the G.F.C.I type. i.e. cockpit, galley or head/shower compartment and remember....never put an AC outlet in the engine compartment. PROPANE - Propane tanks require a separate, dedicated locker with a drain leading from the bottom, directly overboard. Do not keep propane tanks in the cockpit as propane is heavier than air any escaping gas will find it's way below. These systems must have a remote solenoid in the tank compartment and a shut-off switch within easy reach of the appliance without reaching over the appliance. Each tank must have a pressure gauge as this will help determine if it is leaking and all propane fuel lines must be protected against chafe. Appliances with pilot lights are prohibited and all appliances must have a thermocouple which shuts off the fuel if the flame extinguishes. If you have gasoline engines or propane appliances on board a Carbon Monoxide detector is a must. All of these tips are based on ABYC® Standards and if you inspect your boat I can almost guarantee you will find something in contravention of these standards.

Captain Wallace Gouk AMS® Marine Surveyor Port Credit Marine Surveys

Captain Wallace Gouk AMS®, Survey reports accepted world wide by all financial and insurance institutions for sail and power boats servicing Ontario east, west, south and beyond including Niagara-on-the-Lake, St. Catharines, Grimsby, 50 Point, Stoney Creek, Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville, Bronte, Port Credit, Mississauga, Toronto, Oshawa, Pickering, Port Hope, Coburg, Newcastle, Kingston, Brockville, Penetanguishene, Midland, Barrie and Keswick. I have also worked in New York State, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Virginia, Florida and the Bahamas.