Deadly onboard fire

[MapisM]

Aha, that's interesting, thanks for the clarification.
I always try to look at any "under the skin" features when inspecting a boat, but I didn't notice that hatch - and neither the brokers who showed me a couple of 55 mentioned it, but that ain't surprising...
Makes me wonder how many 55 owners are actually aware of it!
Anyway, chapeaux to AZ for including that feature, and for such a neat placement. :encouragement:

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

Aha, that's interesting, thanks for the clarification.
I always try to look at any "under the skin" features when inspecting a boat, but I didn't notice that hatch - and neither the brokers who showed me a couple of 55 mentioned it, but that ain't surprising...
Makes me wonder how many 55 owners are actually aware of it!
Anyway, chapeaux to AZ for including that feature, and for such a neat placement. :encouragement:

It was showed to me by an owner (German from Munich) to be honest when I was photographing a 2003 vintage for brokerage purposes.

 

[Phildorset]

..... here's where it is on the Azimut55 (wasn't able to attach the pic yesterday when I posted reply)

 

[MapisM]

I see, thanks again. Certainly seems cleverly disguised as a normal ceiling panel.
Coming to think of it, on top wondering how many 55 owners are aware of it, I'm also in doubt about how many folks could actually climb out of that passage....
Much better than nothing anyhow, though!

 

[Phildorset]

I see, thanks again. Certainly seems cleverly disguised as a normal ceiling panel.
Coming to think of it, on top wondering how many 55 owners are aware of it, I'm also in doubt about how many folks could actually climb out of that passage....
Much better than nothing anyhow, though!

I'm going to give it a try - just as soon as I get all the external cushions etc cleared out of the saloon

 

[rafiki_]

I'm going to give it a try - just as soon as I get all the external cushions etc cleared out of the saloon

What about the scatter cushions Phil?

 

[petem]

I'm going to give it a try - just as soon as I get all the external cushions etc cleared out of the saloon

Make sure you film it for our entertainment .

But I just can't see this as being a viable means of escape. Surely, if you're lying in your bunk and you hear a smoke alarm sounding you would run through the boat and escape via the normal route. Is there really a scenario when the fire is so severe in the lower deck lobby that you have to bypass it? Isn't there more chance of the fire being strongest in the saloon? I really do think the best chance of survival is some decent smoke alarms and get out ASAP by any route. If the saloon is ablaze then there's always an escape via the forward hatch in the ceiling of the forward cabin. The last thing I'd be doing is pissing about trying to climb though a hole in the sofa into the saloon where I have no idea what I'd find.

 

[Phildorset]

Make sure you film it for our entertainment .

But I just can't see this as being a viable means of escape. Surely, if you're lying in your bunk and you hear a smoke alarm sounding you would run through the boat and escape via the normal route. Is there really a scenario when the fire is so severe in the lower deck lobby that you have to bypass it? Isn't there more chance of the fire being strongest in the saloon? I really do think the best chance of survival is some decent smoke alarms and get out ASAP by any route. If the saloon is ablaze then there's always an escape via the forward hatch in the ceiling of the forward cabin. The last thing I'd be doing is pissing about trying to climb though a hole in the sofa into the saloon where I have no idea what I'd find.

Hi petem, of course we'd all choose the easiest route, and who would argue against smoke alarms, the only reason to ever use the hatch to exit would be because the fire was at the stairway and outside the cabin door, I agree that both seem unlikely, but I'm not going to nail it shut, rather I'll look forward to never needing it.

 

[rafiki_]

Hi petem, of course we'd all choose the easiest route, and who would argue against smoke alarms, the only reason to ever use the hatch to exit would be because the fire was at the stairway and outside the cabin door, I agree that both seem unlikely, but I'm not going to nail it shut, rather I'll look forward to never needing it.

��

 

[Portofino]

Won,t be nailing my 2nd exists shut either .
Had the boat the OP mentioned had 2nd exists in the Mid cabin -concealed or otherwise , -they would have ALL got out .
I can assure you given burn to death ( actually smoke inhalation ) or climb up via a bed ,hands or make shift something or other -you will be amazed what humans will do -it's called survival !
.After all they -three out four managed to assist in helping a presumed small female through a port hole ,so a purpose built escape hatch would have been a walk in the park.
Or she witness them pass out -then her survival instinct kicked in and she exited the p hole unassisted -either way she made it.Presume ( happy to be corrected ) the other 3 did not fit through the P hole ?
Not wanting to be too much "Jason Bourne " esk -call me funny -I always look for exists and escape routes in places and think of plan B,s and C,s .
Boats are not exceptions .

 

[ROW]

This is truly awful and I hope some good can come of the tragedy.

We manufacture construction materials and fire safety is always a major concern for houses. We chartered a boat in Cala d'Or last year (first motorboating experience) and the lack of a second fire escape from the aft cabin crossed my mind. We only used the forward cabin which had a hatch to the deck so felt comfortable that we had two ways out.

However I am concerned about exit from the mid cabins of most boats. Given the large windows that are present on the master cabins of newer boats, does anyone know if they can be smashed with an emergency hammer (the orange things you seen on trains and coaches)? They could be unobtrusively mounted on the cabin side next to the window.

 

[petem]

Hi petem, of course we'd all choose the easiest route, and who would argue against smoke alarms, the only reason to ever use the hatch to exit would be because the fire was at the stairway and outside the cabin door, I agree that both seem unlikely, but I'm not going to nail it shut, rather I'll look forward to never needing it.

I wasn't suggesting you do nail it shut, rather that I would make for the fastest and nearest exit, flames or not. Of course, easy for me to say. Bit fair play to Az for providing the option.

 

[petem]

Had the boat the OP mentioned had 2nd exists in the Mid cabin -concealed or otherwise , -they would have ALL got out .

Porto, you say that as if it were fact. Do you have any additional info that you can share with us?

Incidentally, with large windows to mid cabin, would an emergency hammer (like they have on trains) be able to smash the glass? That would at least ensure an exit away from the fire rather than emerging in the saloon where there may be more poisonous fumes?

 

[Portofino]

Porto, you say that as if it were fact. Do you have any additional info that you can share with us?

Incidentally, with large windows to mid cabin, would an emergency hammer (like they have on trains) be able to smash the glass? That would at least ensure an exit away from the fire rather than emerging in the saloon where there may be more poisonous fumes?

I suspect they are made of different stuff - train glass -boat plastic or super toughened unbrakable glass ?
I would not want a boat with sides that open near the WL at the tap of a light hammer ,in a chop ,or mooring , or next to a newby neighbour ,or Nav at night .

How ever a 2nd exit in a mid cab boat could be a suitable port light that opens of sufficient dim for Mr Av to get out .
With necessary latches and if poss electronic "open alarm " on the helm , all waiting to go wrong and let water in ?

Or install a hatch to space above -why change that from a builders perspective -easy to do ?

 

[petem]

Or install a hatch to space above -why change that from a builders perspective -easy to do ?

Because I suspect hauling yourself up through such a hatch is beyond most people's physical ability (too short, too fat too weak), particularly when choking, potentially in the dark and with no knowledge of what conditions are like in the saloon!

 

[adey]

I think I'd rather have the option than not.
It doesn't look too hard to climb out of, judging by this picture. (you can see the catch on the panel)
By the time you stand on the cabinet you'd surely be half way out?
If nothing else it could be fun when you have guests to pop your head up through the cushions
Be interesting to hear how Phildorset gets on in a real trial.

 

[petem]

I think I'd rather have the option than not.
It doesn't look too hard to climb out of, judging by this picture. (you can see the catch on the panel)
By the time you stand on the cabinet you'd surely be half way out?
If nothing else it could be fun when you have guests to pop your head up through the cushions
Be interesting to hear how Phildorset gets on in a real trial.

I hadn't realised it was there, I had assume it was above the bed. As you say, that does look easier but will await the video!

Alternatively, you could build a slide from that hatch to the bunk minimizing the walk from sofa to bed!

 

[adey]

Or a dumb waiter for the coffee and croissants?
Seriously though, it's not just a fire escape. If you were fast asleep and didn't realise you were sinking until the water was in the cabin you might not be able to open the door. That hatch would be a life saver.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

However I am concerned about exit from the mid cabins of most boats. Given the large windows that are present on the master cabins of newer boats, does anyone know if they can be smashed with an emergency hammer (the orange things you seen on trains and coaches)? They could be unobtrusively mounted on the cabin side next to the window.

That is exactly what I am thinking for my midships master cabin in that I am now planning to store a sledge hammer in a cupboard in the hope that we could smash our way through one of the large hull windows in an emergency. Not sure whether we could actually do it but it would give us a chance

 

[rafiki_]

That is exactly what I am thinking for my midships master cabin in that I am now planning to store a sledge hammer in a cupboard in the hope that we could smash our way through one of the large hull windows in an emergency. Not sure whether we could actually do it but it would give us a chance

Challenge with smashing s window is that if under water, you will have little chance of escaping until the water stops gushing in. Might be too late? Far better chance of escaping through the door and up into the saloon I would think.