El Alemein or Phutt..?

[FlyingSpud]

I was asked the following question the other day, and, not surprisingly given how my brain seems to be in terminal decline, I did not know the answer.

What happens if you have a fire on a boat and the fire reaches the flares?

Any ideas? After all, the reply may well dictate tactics in the case of a fire. I may be less likely to hang around with my plucky little extinguisher if I think that any second the inside of my cabin may resemble the beginning of El Alemein

 

[snowleopard]

oh s***, never thought of that...

parachute flares will make a big bang, remember the guy who killed someone at a football match with one. time to re-think the stowage arrangements.

 

[jonlaw]

On naval ships there are certain pyrotechnics that are impossible to extinguish, the fire fighting procedures given are to 'vacate the compartment, wait until the pyro has finished its cycle, then re-enter and be prepared to fight multiple fires'!!

 

[NDG]

I reckon if the fire's that bad (ie more than can be handled by a couple of domestic extinguishers in 30 secs or so) then you'd be watching the el alemein display from a liferaft a few hundred yards away, wouldn't you?

Same thoughts apply to the extinguishers themselves - if they are caught in a fire, and to gas bottles. Mmmmm, could be interesting...

I reckon the cockpit locker is the best place for them - quick to get hold of even if you're in the process of jumping over the side.

 

[ccscott49]

Flares don't worry me, gas cylinders and I haver three 12 kg ones and two diving cylinders would be my biggest worries in a big fire, but then again if the fire was that big, not much point in worrying anyway, it's gone, just make sure the insurance is up to date!

 

[Mirelle]

Re: oh s***, never thought of that...

Well, like most people, I suppose, I have most of the flares in two watertight-ish plastic containers. One has the in date set and one has the last set. The plastic container will last for a few seconds anyway - long enough to get out of the cabin, I would hope. But, again like most people of my generation, I have a couple of white hand helds clipped to the deckhead just inside the companionway.

 

[FlyingSpud]

But that is my point: I, like most I guess, have the flares in a big plastic tub near the Nav station, just across from the galley. Say a small fire gets going, something like a tea towel catching alight. I drop the towel on the floor, but it lands on the flare tub. How much time do I have? Do the flares blow up, or go off, can they be triggered by heat alone, do they need a naked flame, or are they no danger unless properly set off. Do I have the time to try to put the fire out, or am I in danger of shuffling off of this mortal coil?
We all worry about gas bottles, we all probably take great care with a small box of fireworks on November 5th, but at the very least Snowleopard and I (and I suspect a few others) had not really given any thought to the plastic box of explosives we have on board – usually a few feet from naked flames and heat. Probably should be in an fireproof box of some sort (I almost said asbestos, silly me).

 

[NDG]

But.....if you keep 'em in the cockpit locker you don't need to worry about dropping a tea towel on 'em. Can't see the point of a fireproof box - if the fire's that bad its time to say goodbye anyway, in my view. Can't say I'd ever like to have 1st hand experience of this though.

 

[FlyingSpud]

agreed, except my locker (and yours?) is right beside a hot engine, could be a good way of finding out the impeller has gone though /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[NDG]

Fair point. Its not brilliant, but I cant think of a better place to keep them other than forepeak, which is not very accessible.

 

[Mirelle]

Forepeak

Well, forecabin. That's where mine are. Apart from two white hand helds, that is. Seemed like the best place. Clipped back with bungee cord. Have not got any cockpit lockers....

 

[Jacket]

Re: Forepeak

No cockpit lockers?! What sort of boat have you got?

 

[TheBoatman]

If the fire reaches the flares,,,get off the boat, or at least be prepared to!
Stay away from any open hatches.
Dont store flares near combustables, but in a dedicated container.
Once a flare ingnites water won't put it out, nor any fire extingusher.

I would suggest that if you have a fire on any kind of pleasure vessel and its big enough to get to the flares before you, then you have already got a big problem and should consider the fact that you are likely to need to contemplate getting your feet wet!

MAYDAY-LIFERAFT-GRAB BAG- GOOD BYE OLD GIRL

 

[FlyingSpud]

Yes, but do you know how bad is bad? How much heat/flame does it take to set a flare off? I would like to have some idea but nobody so far seems too certain.

 

[ccscott49]

Are you likely to check the temp with a thermometer before deciding whether your flares are getting too hot? What are you asking? If theres a fire in the locker where your flares are stored, if you cant get them or the fire out, you're in the shit! Stay away from them, a long way away. Storing them away from any likely source of fire, would be my first move. Mine are, but I have a wheelhouse, I realise it is more difficult on a much smaller boat, but a cockpit locker maybe?

 

[FlyingSpud]

Just flame? or can heat set them off? - in which case putting them in a cockpit locker near the engine.....

 

[ccscott49]

I think if you have a look at them, it tells you the storage temperature range, I don't have any to hand here, so can't check myself. But there must be a reasonably insulated area onboard, where they can still be easily got at. Failing that, they copuld be taken out when at sea and put somewhere to hand.

 

[dickh]

I keep a full in date set in the cockpit locker in it's container, and extra ones clipped to the underside of the locker lid, white on one side and red on the other. The only problem with this arrangement is it makes the lids heavier and if they slam shut they sometimes drop off into the locker so now only keep 3 hand flares on each.

dickh
I'd rather be sailing... /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[Twister_Ken]

Cockpit lockers. Dang new-fangled inventions.

Jacket,

You might live to regret asking that question!

To spare Mirelle blushing to much when he replies, his boat has no cockpit lockers because it has no cockpit. It's one of them gnarly ol'gaffer thingies with a small footwell let into the aft deck (made from three inch ebony planks or somesuch). It has a long long bowsprit that makes men green with envy and women tremble. Although it has no cockpit lockers it has more poetical storage, such as lazarettes, cubbies, cuddies and fish holds.

 

[Jacket]

Re: Cockpit lockers. Dang new-fangled inventions.

OK, I'm jealous. I've always wanted a big bowsprit to scare people with. I bet they get out of your way when they see it coming towards them.