boat fire poole harbour approaches

Can't open that video, Martin. But would be interested.
We heard the VHF shout for it, including the rather chilling "We're abandoning now. Can't get to lifejackets because of the fire!" - I gather from the report on YBW that they were taken off safely, but would dearly love to know how it started.
Also made me wonder how I would deal with a similar incident (all our fire extinguishers are below, no access to engine compartment from cockpit ... etc).
At BBJ I bought a new style of fire extinguisher from a UK company that said they were coming out with an automatic engine compartment device. Might go back and have another look for that.
 
Fire is scary. I heard this one started in the engine bay. I suppose the best idea is to have detectors and remote operated extinguishers. The problem is waiting until you are aware of a fire normally means it is beyond remedy. Then you also have the problem of abandoning ship from a flamming vessel which is a bout the worst case scenario. Being with the vessel puts you at significant risk which is the opposite as with most emergencies on board. Perhaps we should all be considering the likley areas a fire could start on our boat and reducing the risk as well as thinking about how we would fight a fire or abandon ship in the event of a fire.
 
Yep. Very sobering.
I just bought a fire port to bolt on/in to the engine compartment. I should be able to reach the fire extinguisher from the cockpit and if I put the port near the top of the compartment I ought to be able to squirt it through there.
Gas bottle is aft in the cockpit.
Liferaft is in the cockpit.
We ought to be wearing L J's already, if under way.
Usually have a handheld VHF in the cockpit (though main VHF is down below).

Emergency grab bag is down below, next to the chart table, so that would be out of reach. Might need to make room in the cockpit locker for it. Easier said than done ...

What have I missed?
 
If you prepare for every eventuality everything would be in the cockpit and you would struggle to move. It would also mean that you are constantly thinking the worst could happen and your enjoyment would be diminished to the point of making it not worthwhile. How many boats went out over the weekend that didn't catch fire? It is the same with people who are scared of flying. Yes, it makes the news when there is a plane crash but 1,000s take off and land every day with no drama. That's not to say you should be complacent but you can't plan for every eventuality as you would never cast off.

IMHO
 
Certainly gives me pause for thought - I have never really considered what would happen in the case of a fire in the engine compartment.

My batteries are right next to the engine - so a fire there could knock out power to the fixed VHF before I even realised it had happened. Liferaft, flares and spare fire extinguishers are either in the lazarette - which is an extension of the engine compartment - or the next door cockpit locker than has just a wood partition.

If there were an engine room fire I could run out of options very quickly.... that needs more thought
 
Cheery said:
If you prepare for every eventuality everything would be in the cockpit and you would struggle to move. It would also mean that you are constantly thinking the worst could happen and your enjoyment would be diminished to the point of making it not worthwhile. How many boats went out over the weekend that didn't catch fire? It is the same with people who are scared of flying. Yes, it makes the news when there is a plane crash but 1,000s take off and land every day with no drama. That's not to say you should be complacent but you can't plan for every eventuality as you would never cast off.

IMHO
Click to expand...

I don't follow that at all. Planing and preparing for known risks is not the same as blind panic and fear. A certain number of things can happen that cause significant problems at sea and it is reasonable to plan for them. It doesn't take much effort to work out what you might do in such an emergency and where your major risks lie.
 
The scenario that crosses my mind is where a fire starts in a sports cruiser main cabin whilst we are asleep in the mid berth.
No way out other than forward into the cabin then back out the access door.
For this reason we have fire extinguisher in the mid berth to fight our way out.........in theory.
 
dpb said:
The scenario that crosses my mind is where a fire starts in a sports cruiser main cabin whilst we are asleep in the mid berth.
No way out other than forward into the cabin then back out the access door.
For this reason we have fire extinguisher in the mid berth to fight our way out.........in theory.
Click to expand...

You should have a Fire Extinguisher in each cabin and then one in the Cockpit locker that you can reach without going below.
IMHO
 
dpb said:
The scenario that crosses my mind is where a fire starts in a sports cruiser main cabin whilst we are asleep in the mid berth.
No way out other than forward into the cabin then back out the access door.
For this reason we have fire extinguisher in the mid berth to fight our way out.........in theory.
Click to expand...

You may find large fire blankets better for that than an extinguisher. A good incentive to make sure everything is turned off before turning in though.
 
Assuming you meant "BBQ or an engine problem", I think engine: the VHF conversation was something along the lines of "thick smoke but no fire yet" ... 2 minutes later ... "flames from the engine compartment, can't get to the lifejackets."

But what caused the engine problem? It was a sailing yacht, so I assume it was a diesel auxilliary engine. They aren't frequently given to conflagration.

Unless you meant "BBQ of an engine" - in which case it seems to have gone rather well.
 
dpb said:
The scenario that crosses my mind is where a fire starts in a sports cruiser main cabin whilst we are asleep in the mid berth.
No way out other than forward into the cabin then back out the access door.
For this reason we have fire extinguisher in the mid berth to fight our way out.........in theory.
Click to expand...

I'm assuming you probably have smoke alarms, but if not, every second counts as toxic fumes in boat fires have knocked down crew members long before the flames have developed.
Alarms will buy those extra seconds before it gets too late.

Here's a relevant excerpt about fire escape from a cruiser that caught fire near York
Mr Church, 41, said he punched a hole in a small perspex hatch covering, but the backdraft then swept flames through the cabin towards Jak, burning his back and arms.

He pushed Jak through the hatch but knew he himself had no chance of fitting through the narrow gap and - resigned to dying - told Jak to leave him, jump into the river and save himself.

But Jak told him: “No, I’m going to die with you,” and remained on the deck of the cruiser, called Mojo.

Mr Church said he then somehow found almost superhuman strength to punch and punch the fibreglass roof of the cabin until he had created a hole big enough to clamber through.

“I don’t know how I did it but I wasn’t going to allow Jak to die,” he said. “He was so brave. The roof is strong enough to hold eight people. My hands were swollen to twice their size afterwards but amazingly they found later I had broken no bones.”
Full story - www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/10720640.Boat_inferno_dad_tells_of_incredible_escape/
Fire prevention in systems and behaviour is the best way to avoid such dangers, but have smoke alarms and a fire action plan that is familiar as the back of your hand can be critical to surviving a boat fire if the worst happens.
 
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