Boat fire at Abingdon marina

[prof pat pending]

http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/13772244.Boaters_jump_in_the_Thames_after_cruiser_catches_fire/

A certain young lady (that some of you might remember from a previous thread) deserves a special mention for pulling a number of crew out of the water.

 

[Actionmat]

That's terrible.

Two questions.

1) was it a petrol boat?

2) did the brave young lady treat them with courtesy and agree to unlock the gate and let them out of the marina?

 

[prof pat pending]

1 Not sure, but I'll find out: EDIT ~ It was petrol

2 You can be sure she did and let the fire brigade in, whom I'm sure we're in a bit of a hurry to gain access

 

[JorgeinLondon]

There's been too many of these incidents on the river this year.

Makes me nervous being a petrol outboard boat... The article says it was 'probably due to an engine malfunction'. What sort of malfunction would cause the thing to erupt into flames like that? If it was a petrol boat may it have been fumes in the engine room and a bad blower I suppose, otherwise its kinda scary!

 

[bumperdump]

There's been too many of these incidents on the river this year.

Makes me nervous being a petrol outboard boat... The article says it was 'probably due to an engine malfunction'. What sort of malfunction would cause the thing to erupt into flames like that? If it was a petrol boat may it have been fumes in the engine room and a bad blower I suppose, otherwise its kinda scary!

Split petrol pipe for one.

 

[ProDave]

Crews from Abingdon and Rewley Road in Oxford rushed to the scene and were joined by staff from Wantage and a water support unit from Kidlington.

Did they think they might run short of water while fighting a fire on a boat on the Thames?

 

[prof pat pending]

If it was a petrol boat may it have been fumes in the engine room and a bad blower I suppose, otherwise its kinda scary!

It was petrol.

It never ceases to amaze me how many owners of older boats consider a bilge blower to be an unnecessary extra.
(I'm not implying that was the case here, just a general observation)

 

[BSSOffice]

This is available to share around clubs and moorings if it will help

 

[sailorman]

This is available to share clubs and moorings if will help
View attachment 53666

You might mention keeping spare petrol cans in the vented anchor well

 

[bumperdump]

This is available to share clubs and moorings if will help
View attachment 53666

Great post.

 

[JumbleDuck]

2 You can be sure she did and let the fire brigade in, whom I'm sure we're in a bit of a hurry to gain access

Did they have an appointment?

 

[prof pat pending]

I think they were expecting them

 

[Cashbuyer]

There's been too many of these incidents on the river this year.

Makes me nervous being a petrol outboard boat... The article says it was 'probably due to an engine malfunction'. What sort of malfunction would cause the thing to erupt into flames like that? If it was a petrol boat may it have been fumes in the engine room and a bad blower I suppose, otherwise its kinda scary!

How many exactly? Two as far as I am aware.

 

[prof pat pending]

3 that I can think of in the last 4 months or so

 

[JorgeinLondon]

Considering the lack of activity on the river this year it seems pretty high.

 

[Actionmat]

What lack of activity? My experience this year is set off very early and hunt for a mooring before lunchtime, or miss out.
There are loads of visiting boats this year, in fact I'd say there are too many!

 

[sailorman]

3 that I can think of in the last 4 months or so

The BSS isnt working then is it.Are these all petrol related

 

[boatone]

The BSS isnt working then is it.Are these all petrol related

There have been 3 incidents on the Thames that I am aware of this year - yes, all petrol boats - one at Saxon moorings, one below Bray lock and this one at Abingdon.

However, to assume BSS isn't working is a nonsense. The BSS does not guarantee there will be no accidents, it simply sets out to minimise a risk which is always present and people can do silly things that cause accidents anyway.
I was moored at Henley near the River and Rowing Museum a few weeks ago just astern of a small open motorboat with outboard. People arrived and, on the bank side. proceeded to pour petrol from a jerry can into a jug and then into the fuel tank. I was genuinely scared by their actions. Fortunately there was no accident. However, the potential for an explosion with people walking past smoking doesn't bear thinking about. Boat didn't look too well cared for either.

When the enquiries are concluded we will know what happened but my money is on human error rather than inadequacy of the BSS.

 

[Actionmat]

We were sat on the rear of the boat one summer late at night, when a Norman cruiser full of drunks floated downstream and bumped into us. It's engine had cut out and one of their 'crew' grabbed the side rails of our boat.
It was then that I realised that another of their group was attempting to refuel the outboard from a jerry can with a fag hanging from his mouth, while petrol went everywhere. At the same time a fight broke out between 2 others!
I had no choice but to take control of the situation and after insisting that all but one of them waited in the cabin, I grabbed a funnel from my boat, put fuel in theirs and was delighted to see the back of them.
The BSS wouldn't have helped my boat or theirs in that instance!

 

[Flynnbarr]

Far more fire related incidents around the coast and yet inland boaters are the only ones not to be trusted with ensuring safety of themselves and their craft.