Disaster!

petem

petem

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16 May 2001
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Location
Cotswolds / Altea
www.fairlineownersclub.com
1st day of holiday, thought it was sensible to get the Sea-Fire engine bay fire extinguisher serviced. Stupid ***** set the thing off. As it's the original 2000 one they're saying it can't be refilled. Replacement will take 10 days to come.

Does anyone know a firm that can send a replacement by fast courier?

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petem said:
It's connected to the Sea-Fire system so engines wont even start now that it's fired.
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Yes they will you can override it , if that won’t work just disconnect the purple wire to the stop solenoid on each pump or disconnect the stop relay in the black box .
There was another post on here same engines same non start problem turned out to be faulty sea fire system .
Personally I think it’s a crap system in that you can be stranded after it’s gone off . I’ve been to a few boats that won’t start because of the design
 
petem said:
Funniest thing, I was in the phone to Jez when it happened! He said "sounds like they've just set off your extinguisher!". No shit Sherlock!
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LOL, who needs a fire alarm, when you can just chat on the phone with someone who can warn you of what's happening at your end? :D

Sorry P if this is spoiling your holiday.
And I have no clue about who has the thing on stock and can send it to you PDQ, other than googling for 'Sea-Fire FD300M'...

But I really don't think that you need to replace the thing to start your engines (hence use the boat), for a couple of reason:
1) technically, I can't think of any fire system where the engine shutoff is driven by the lack of pressure in the bottle alone.
What triggers the emergency shutoff (which usually, on top of turning the engines off, shuts also the fuel valves) is usually a switch, which in turn actuates some relays. In other words, you should have some panel where it's possible to manually reset the "normal" state and then turn the engines on again, regardless of the bottle status.
2) logically, it would be a nonsense if you couldn't restart the engines. Just think of a scenario where the extinguisher goes off for the right reason, and it does its job of extinguishing the fire. Why on earth should you be forced to stay adrift, potentially in the middle of the ocean, when the engines could be working just fine and have nothing to see with the reason of the fire?

Of course, if you would reset the system, start your engines, and deliberately head offshore for a swim without replacing the fire extinguisher, your insurance might raise an objection or three, if you would actually have an onboard fire...
But let's face it, we are all moboers. We wouldn't be into such silly hobby if we were sensible folks, I reckon! :rolleyes:

PS: ops, I wrote the above before reading VP post - whose conclusions I agree wholeheartedly, fwiw.
 
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I'm sure that the fire extinguisher end of the Seafire system is just a simple switch so it can be over ridden.

I have a test procedure that I run regularly - with engines running, I disconnect the inline plastic junction and the engines stop.

Who did the checking, Pete?
Tim has a fire extinguished man in SC that he thought was good.
Maybe get the name from him - or I can contact Tim for you.
 
Friend set his off. Badly lacerated his finger.

Surley you just put the switch on the helm on the seafire unit to override and it will start.

And hold your breath for the bill. Mine to be pressure tested and refilled was e1000

New one. Smaller boat. Euro 1500 plus fitting ?
 
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Think you may have a problem trying to ship a replacement cylinder by courier, as it's pressurised. Surely, there is a local(ish) supplier who can refill your cylinder?
 
As others have said, you should be able to override the engine stop at the helm on the seafire panel (or following Paul's excellent instructions).

Seafire in Portsmouth would be your obvious bet for an immediate like-for-like replacement, but because it is hazardous materials, shipping costs will be high.

Watch out for the insurance position of operating the boat with no auto fire extinguisher on board (although from your photo above, if the cylinder has never been serviced before you were probably already in trouble on this point).
 
Hurricane said:
I'm sure that the fire extinguisher end of the Seafire system is just a simple switch so it can be over ridden.

I have a test procedure that I run regularly - with engines running, I disconnect the inline plastic junction and the engines stop.

Who did the checking, Pete?
Tim has a fire extinguished man in SC that he thought was good.
Maybe get the name from him - or I can contact Tim for you.
Click to expand...

Sorry, a bit pissed so poor quality answer.
@Hurricane, I used the same people as Tim.

Need to sort two things two things,,,,

1) install temp auto extuingisher
2) sort insurance
3) get engines started
 
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