Carbon Monoxide poisoning

[Bbroomlea]

We had a little scare at the weekend, which involved the wife hitting the 'deck' quite literally and believe we were poisoned by exhaust fumes.

We took her mum and step dad out for a cold but nice cruise and stopped for a beer before heading home. On the way back the wind was coming straight onto the stern so we closed the canopy fully and chugged home at 4-5 knots as we were in no rush.

On getting back to the marina we dropped the guests off and they walked back to their hotel and we agreed to meet in a couple of hours for food. We sat down for a while as wasnt feeling too well before getting ready. 10 minutes later my wife passed out and to be honest I wasnt far behind. Somehow we made it out for tea only to find our guests were in no better state - I googled carbon monoxide poisoning to find we all had one symptom or another.

Only gas used was to boil the kettle for a cuppa and that isnt anything unusual so it can only have been fumes blown into a sealed cabin as we had a trailing wind.

Does this sound like it could be as simple as that or is my boat trying to kill us?

 

[moonraker 36]

is it not a through prop exhaust.?
i'm guessing your on a leg.

 

[JKay]

We had a little scare at the weekend, which involved the wife hitting the 'deck' quite literally and believe we were poisoned by exhaust fumes.

We took her mum and step dad out for a cold but nice cruise and stopped for a beer before heading home. On the way back the wind was coming straight onto the stern so we closed the canopy fully and chugged home at 4-5 knots as we were in no rush.

On getting back to the marina we dropped the guests off and they walked back to their hotel and we agreed to meet in a couple of hours for food. We sat down for a while as wasnt feeling too well before getting ready. 10 minutes later my wife passed out and to be honest I wasnt far behind. Somehow we made it out for tea only to find our guests were in no better state - I googled carbon monoxide poisoning to find we all had one symptom or another.

Only gas used was to boil the kettle for a cuppa and that isnt anything unusual so it can only have been fumes blown into a sealed cabin as we had a trailing wind.

Does this sound like it could be as simple as that or is my boat trying to kill us?

Our CO alarm goes off sometimes in the cabin with a following breeze , get an alarm for about £15 from B&Q now(mine a petrol boat as well)

 

[Bbroomlea]

Yes its through a leg - We've not had the boat long but done quite a few hours so far in varying conditions but never experienced this.

I'm guessing its a combination of a trailing wind, slow speed and closed canopy with no ventilation. As we are on Windermere there is no change in direction either. This is the first time we have been out with a fully closed canopy as well - usually either the back or sides are open.

There was no smoke from the engine when underway but it was smoky on start-up/tickover for a few minutes (its a 4.3GL volvo penta) - which has been normal in our ownership.

I'm hoping I have learnt my lesson in keeping an eye on the wind and ventilation but if anyone thinks its something more serious I'm happy to know!

 

[moonraker 36]

do you have bilge blowers..?
good idea to run them when your going slowly..just in case it came from the engine bay
and get the alarm as stated.

it's a learning curve...

 

[volvopaul]

Thats a good excuse then to get the speed limit abolished as its dangerous to boat at such slow speeds!!

 

[Bbroomlea]

do you have bilge blowers..?
good idea to run them when your going slowly..
and get the alarm as stated.

it's a learning curve...

Your right - definitely a learning curve - could have been much worse!

We had bilge blowers/extractors but havent used them when underway - I will be doing now if its going to help?

I'll bypass B&Q too and get an alarm - regardless of cost I dont want to go through this weekends experience again!

 

[JKay]

The blowers don't help as its the exhaust gases, on the odd times the alarm goes off on our boat we ventilate everywhere ,opening all ports,vents and the canopy
On our boat it's only when a gentle breeze blows from the rear

 

[Bbroomlea]

The blowers don't help as its the exhaust gases, on the odd times the alarm goes off on our boat we ventilate everywhere ,opening all ports,vents and the canopy
On our boat it's only when a gentle breeze blows from the rear

Jkay - I'll be doing the same thing in future - will get an alarm too before next weekend.

Conditions were exactly as you have described - very slight breeze from behind and obviously blowing fumes straight in for an hour or so on our way back.

 

[JKay]

Thats a good excuse then to get the speed limit abolished as its dangerous to boat at such slow speeds!!

Funny you say that as our CO alarm has only gone off two or three times whilst "spinning" waiting for locks

 

[Csail]

The cheap B&Q type ones don'y like damp.

 

[JKay]

Mines been in 4 years...and Volvo instruments don't like damp either

Jokes aside on a serious subject I have CO and smoke alarms in the Cabin where I'd like to think isn't that damp and they have both lasted well and checked often

 

[Bandit]

There was a report very similar to this with a chap recently, petrol stern dive and canopy closed, I think it was an MAIB report.

Outdrive leg, exhaust gas bubbles to surface and drawn in through canopy.

A bilge blower would make little difference unless there is an engine room exhaust leak.

If you think you have had carbon monoxide poisoning I would seek medical advice.

 

[moonraker 36]

thought it was a good idea to run bilge blowers when traveling slowly.?
always run mine as their is less air being forced through the engine bay vents (to vent any poss petrol fumes).

A bilge blower would make little difference unless there is an engine room exhaust leak.
we dont 100% no if the leak was from out side.
at least he's aware of the situation now and can take steps so it dosnt happen again.
best of luck.....

 

[DAKA]

Im not too sure how useful this information is but here goes.............

towards the front of my engine owners manual there are two full pages devoted to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

While underway you should have one or two front hatches open.
The picture shows how the open hatch allows air to pass through the boat, through the canopy and the exhaust never back flows.

with the hatch closed it shows how the exhaust is brought back into the canopy and boat back door as the exhaust eddie currents into the boat.

edit
Its not often we go inside but we do open a front hatch when in harbour or a side window when at sea if we do go down below.
It also stops the salt spray coming in and causing fittings to rust.


Anyway I thought you guys in sports boats considered yourselves as the extreme sports element of mobos, of course most seem to turn back anything above a GF5 so popping over to Yarmouth for lunch as your balding 50's approach needs that extra danger risk, best keep the hatches closed me thinks

 

[Croak]

There was another one a while ago where the fumes from the eberspacher were getting into the canopy

 

[neale]

There was another one a while ago where the fumes from the eberspacher were getting into the canopy

That's this one. Not relevant here but a good opportunity to post the link as it is well worth reading.


Edit: I take it back. It is relevant as the CO came from the engines exhaust. The Eber was dispersing it, but the cause was the same

 

[Bbroomlea]

Thats a really interesting report - thanks for posting it up.

Although the fumes were not drawn in by a heater it seems we have a common problem in the engine. Ours is also a 4.3GS VP and is also sometimes a bit smoky when cold until its fully warm - at which point there is no smoke and at all times runs absolutely fine.

Its due a service in April and I was intending on doing the usual oil, plugs, all filters and use of some carb cleaner as well. In light of that report I may pay an engineer to do this years service to be on the safe side.

 

[rafiki_]

Unless you are still suffering, then no need to see a Doc. I "gassed" myself a few times testing cars in sealed cold chambers, and if the exhaust extraction was not 100% we used to get a bit headachy after 45 mins in the chamber after a cold start (-25C).

 

[Scubadoo]

By the looks of your avatar you have a Sealine S24?

I have noticed in my S24 that when I start the engine at it's berth, the initial smoke from my diesel sometimes enters the cockpit area. I found that the drain holes under the engine hatch backfeed smoke from underneath the bathing platform. I have replaced the engine hatch seal (twice) but it doesn't seem to stop it completely. Anyway I keep the covers open until the engine has warmed up etc.

I also have a First Alert CO2 tester from B&Q with a PPM display for around £30, it is placed at the entrance to the cabin. I bought this for the gas cooker more than the engine exhaust at the time.

As others have said, best to keep some airflow at all times really.