A smell of acrid PVC and the electrics die. Would you cope?

[ShipsWoofy]

Re: A smell of acrid PVC and the electrics die. Would you cope?

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If the electrics are actually on fire then I still don't think I'd kill the engine (drop it to idle or lowest possible revs whilst maintaining safe course) - I'd use a fire extinguisher on the fire first and then consider how to disconnect the alternator (assuming it is that that is causing the fire) - probably with an extension bar through the belt to flip it off the pulley - but that would be last resort and standing WELL back!!

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2 things I thought of when reading this, 1st the one that only kills the engine, if you have powder extinguishers in the engine bay with the engine running... RIP engine.

Point 2, no, don't do it. You will be hopefully still breathing in the helo harness as they try to get you lifted with the bilge pump handle stuck in your chest.

I would if trying to do this, in emergency, loosen the alternator brackets and wind it right down, the belt will slip and drop off on its own. Using a longish extension bar to prevent fingers going with it naturally. OTOH, hell, the alternator is goosed, disconnect the battery!

 

[Chris_Robb]

Re: A smell of acrid PVC and the electrics die. Would you cope?

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2 things I thought of when reading this, 1st the one that only kills the engine, if you have powder extinguishers in the engine bay with the engine running... RIP engine.


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If you have a gaseous fire extinguisher, a running engine will expell it all in no time, so making it next to useless!.

Not sure what you meant about the bilge pump handle?

 

[ShipsWoofy]

Re: A smell of acrid PVC and the electrics die. Would you cope?

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Not sure what you meant about the bilge pump handle?

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He suggested knocking the belt off a running engine with an implement of some kind, a broom handle would be too unwieldy, so I had an imaginary look around for a strong pole type thing to jam into a pulley assy... The best thing on my boat would be the bilge pump handle.. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[MacMan]

Agree, we have a handheld. An what's more it's got all the right way points as it used to be all we had in terms of electrickery plotting on last boat! On our new boat we have a Yeoman - a very good comprimise giving ease of electronic aid but availability of physical paper chart and recent plots when everything goes pop.