mjf
Active member
Sorry this has taken sooo long to report but apart from getting the boat sorted and getting over the incident it was several on here who convinced me to tell the tail when at LIBS earlier this year
Here goes..
My Princess Flybridge was moored on her permanent Swanwick marina berth last April and I was sitting on the outside cockpit seat with the cockpit door pulled too, as it was a little damp overnight and still a bit foggy - another sunny day was in prospect. All was well with the world as the smell of bacon wafted down the pontoon
Fabulous Spring sunshine had seen the cockpit cover off for several days now and the boat ready for the season ahead.
After a while I could smell a slight burning odour and thought it similar to an over enthusiastic polishing buffer - but no 'local' work was being undertaken. The breakfast had long gone! I knew that nothing electrical was plugged in my saloon, galley nor indeed the forward owner’s suite. Only a dehumidifier was ‘running ‘ in the second (Stbd) guest twin cabin and this had been moved to its regular 'when on board' position between the two single berths and was set to medium (this setting is never changed) on its humidistat since before Easter the week before.
The usual practice when the boat is left is to position the unit in the galley with a water drain into the galley sink, and once on board it’s moved to the Stbd cabin and emptied when needed thus maintaining a dry atmosphere whilst on board. The cabin door is generally closed when the saloon is ‘open cockpit’ and left a jar at night and when we are asleep in the master suite.
The only time I entered this cabin was the day before to empty the water container.
The burning smell became stronger and stronger and by this stage I was becoming concerned as I could not trace the third party source.
After a while I decided to check if my boat was indeed causing the burning smell and opened the cockpit door (closed as it was damp outside) to check. I found a slight mist and as I advanced forward to the galley area the smoke was denser, the smell got ever stronger and to my horror I could see the source was behind the guest cabin door as thick smoke outlined the door frame. I keep a fire extinguisher in the galley opposite and I took this, removing the safety pin in the smoke, and opened the door wondering what horror I would find inside. I attempted to set off the dry power unit - to no avail, despite pressing the top nothing happened. I could not see due to the dense smoke. I re closed the cabin door. Well you don’t expect this in a moment of danger – what to do now? The smoke was causing me to cough and my eyes where very sore by now.
I exited to the cockpit and inspecting the extinguisher saw that the trigger from the top of the unit was missing along with the safety pin. Blimey!
Several thoughts went through my mind including using the domestic FW hose on the pontoon nearby and using a spray head to hide behind and clear some smoke as I had another go at the fire. This I concluded would take too long and really I had only seconds to spare as clearly I had added fuel (air) to the seat of the fire during the failed attempt!
In the end I shouted loudly for assistance and then returned forward to get another extinguisher that is kept in the owners suite, the smoke was even heavier now and I had to crawl forward on hands and knees– once I had removed the safety pin where I could see it, I again opened the guest cabin door and keeping on the floor was able to discharge this unit onto the base of the flames I could now vaguely see through the smoke. Once fully discharged I again closed the cabin door and evacuated the boat. I really thought this time the boat might be lost as the flames were large and once I closed the door I had no idea if I had been successful.
There was black smoke billowing out of the cockpit doors as I stood shaking on the pontoon.
Happily there were some other boat owners and several contractors running towards me, as well as marina duty staff - all with fire extinguishers ready to assist further if needed.
I was concerned that I may not have fully extinguished the fire but we needed to remove some smoke without feeding further air to the fire. I was pleased to note no flames coming from the main helm nor foredeck. After several minutes anxious wait, with a saloon window open, we were able to re-board and check the second cabin. No new smoke was a positive sign. On inspection the fire was out, and the dehumidifier had melted in the heat it was clearly the source of the fire. What a mess though!
At this time the missing trigger was found on the galley sole along with two guard/safety pins – the trigger on the first extinguisher had been knocked off in error when I removed the safety pin and had been unseen during the fire due to the very dense smoke. Bad design
I could certainly have done without effectively fighting two fires before coffee that morning!
As a friend pointed out at the time – if the fire had occurred just a couple of hours earlier when the cabin door would have allowed air to quickly feed the fire I could easily have been asphyxiated, then cremated before being ‘buried at sea’ on my own marina berth.
Lessons/ observations
• Compressor type – now replaced by desiccant method
• Powered by mains 240v single plug / single socket
• Unit was well ventilated and dust screen cleaned but caught fire
• Stable position – even at sea
• No smoke alarm fitted O/B– this rectified
• No fire blanket O/B– this would have been used when initial extinguished failed and is now installed
• Fire Extinguisher design now changed to metal trigger that cannot snap off in error.
• Remove safety pin and check trigger Ok in good visibility.
• The incident could have proved fatal had I been asleep in the master suite and damage to my boat and those surrounding it severe.
• May consider a water or foam domestic extinguisher additionally as the DP caused huge cosmetic damage, but was hugely effective.
After telephoning my wife at work, my next call was to my insurer Pantaenius who were extremely supportive, I advised I was unsure if there would be a claim but suggested an adjuster might like to visit in case my costs exceeded my deductable.
I was told that Pantaenius’ top priority was to ensure that the boat was restored to her former glory and initially commission a full interior professional clean ASAP. There would be no excess/deductable, as it was a fire claim, and no survey was required – I was to fully support costs when my claim was filed and keep them advised on progress, but they again pushed me to get the restoration started promptly so I could enjoy my boating.
I discovered afterwards that had the boat been lost the full insured value would have been settled without depreciation nor excess.
Very re assuring frankly esp. when their premium is quoted/ paid on % pa on insured value ..
Interestingly there is no smoke alarm on many production boats that have quite sophisticated factory fitted engine room and Lazarette fire systems.
Several friends have changed their dehumidifiers to desiccant type thus avoiding compressor malfunction/overheating; Many have purchased fire blankets and smoke alarms now too.
I sleep with a smoke alarm on the bedside area now
Horse bolted………….Just feels safer
PMYS Swanwick came to the rescue and organized a chap from the third party factory team of upholstery makers to reline the cabin as despite huge efforts the smoke damage would not shift. There was no other fire damage to the boat; only some odd clothes and bedding / mattresses required replacement.
Burned dehumidifier
Area of fire – note broken electric socket, burnt bedding etc
Burned mattresses
Used extinguisher (near galley kettle) note ‘missing’ trigger from initial attempt
Opened switchboard panel to show only smoke damage
.
Here goes..
My Princess Flybridge was moored on her permanent Swanwick marina berth last April and I was sitting on the outside cockpit seat with the cockpit door pulled too, as it was a little damp overnight and still a bit foggy - another sunny day was in prospect. All was well with the world as the smell of bacon wafted down the pontoon
Fabulous Spring sunshine had seen the cockpit cover off for several days now and the boat ready for the season ahead.
After a while I could smell a slight burning odour and thought it similar to an over enthusiastic polishing buffer - but no 'local' work was being undertaken. The breakfast had long gone! I knew that nothing electrical was plugged in my saloon, galley nor indeed the forward owner’s suite. Only a dehumidifier was ‘running ‘ in the second (Stbd) guest twin cabin and this had been moved to its regular 'when on board' position between the two single berths and was set to medium (this setting is never changed) on its humidistat since before Easter the week before.
The usual practice when the boat is left is to position the unit in the galley with a water drain into the galley sink, and once on board it’s moved to the Stbd cabin and emptied when needed thus maintaining a dry atmosphere whilst on board. The cabin door is generally closed when the saloon is ‘open cockpit’ and left a jar at night and when we are asleep in the master suite.
The only time I entered this cabin was the day before to empty the water container.
The burning smell became stronger and stronger and by this stage I was becoming concerned as I could not trace the third party source.
After a while I decided to check if my boat was indeed causing the burning smell and opened the cockpit door (closed as it was damp outside) to check. I found a slight mist and as I advanced forward to the galley area the smoke was denser, the smell got ever stronger and to my horror I could see the source was behind the guest cabin door as thick smoke outlined the door frame. I keep a fire extinguisher in the galley opposite and I took this, removing the safety pin in the smoke, and opened the door wondering what horror I would find inside. I attempted to set off the dry power unit - to no avail, despite pressing the top nothing happened. I could not see due to the dense smoke. I re closed the cabin door. Well you don’t expect this in a moment of danger – what to do now? The smoke was causing me to cough and my eyes where very sore by now.
I exited to the cockpit and inspecting the extinguisher saw that the trigger from the top of the unit was missing along with the safety pin. Blimey!
Several thoughts went through my mind including using the domestic FW hose on the pontoon nearby and using a spray head to hide behind and clear some smoke as I had another go at the fire. This I concluded would take too long and really I had only seconds to spare as clearly I had added fuel (air) to the seat of the fire during the failed attempt!
In the end I shouted loudly for assistance and then returned forward to get another extinguisher that is kept in the owners suite, the smoke was even heavier now and I had to crawl forward on hands and knees– once I had removed the safety pin where I could see it, I again opened the guest cabin door and keeping on the floor was able to discharge this unit onto the base of the flames I could now vaguely see through the smoke. Once fully discharged I again closed the cabin door and evacuated the boat. I really thought this time the boat might be lost as the flames were large and once I closed the door I had no idea if I had been successful.
There was black smoke billowing out of the cockpit doors as I stood shaking on the pontoon.
Happily there were some other boat owners and several contractors running towards me, as well as marina duty staff - all with fire extinguishers ready to assist further if needed.
I was concerned that I may not have fully extinguished the fire but we needed to remove some smoke without feeding further air to the fire. I was pleased to note no flames coming from the main helm nor foredeck. After several minutes anxious wait, with a saloon window open, we were able to re-board and check the second cabin. No new smoke was a positive sign. On inspection the fire was out, and the dehumidifier had melted in the heat it was clearly the source of the fire. What a mess though!
At this time the missing trigger was found on the galley sole along with two guard/safety pins – the trigger on the first extinguisher had been knocked off in error when I removed the safety pin and had been unseen during the fire due to the very dense smoke. Bad design
I could certainly have done without effectively fighting two fires before coffee that morning!
As a friend pointed out at the time – if the fire had occurred just a couple of hours earlier when the cabin door would have allowed air to quickly feed the fire I could easily have been asphyxiated, then cremated before being ‘buried at sea’ on my own marina berth.
Lessons/ observations
• Compressor type – now replaced by desiccant method
• Powered by mains 240v single plug / single socket
• Unit was well ventilated and dust screen cleaned but caught fire
• Stable position – even at sea
• No smoke alarm fitted O/B– this rectified
• No fire blanket O/B– this would have been used when initial extinguished failed and is now installed
• Fire Extinguisher design now changed to metal trigger that cannot snap off in error.
• Remove safety pin and check trigger Ok in good visibility.
• The incident could have proved fatal had I been asleep in the master suite and damage to my boat and those surrounding it severe.
• May consider a water or foam domestic extinguisher additionally as the DP caused huge cosmetic damage, but was hugely effective.
After telephoning my wife at work, my next call was to my insurer Pantaenius who were extremely supportive, I advised I was unsure if there would be a claim but suggested an adjuster might like to visit in case my costs exceeded my deductable.
I was told that Pantaenius’ top priority was to ensure that the boat was restored to her former glory and initially commission a full interior professional clean ASAP. There would be no excess/deductable, as it was a fire claim, and no survey was required – I was to fully support costs when my claim was filed and keep them advised on progress, but they again pushed me to get the restoration started promptly so I could enjoy my boating.
I discovered afterwards that had the boat been lost the full insured value would have been settled without depreciation nor excess.
Very re assuring frankly esp. when their premium is quoted/ paid on % pa on insured value ..
Interestingly there is no smoke alarm on many production boats that have quite sophisticated factory fitted engine room and Lazarette fire systems.
Several friends have changed their dehumidifiers to desiccant type thus avoiding compressor malfunction/overheating; Many have purchased fire blankets and smoke alarms now too.
I sleep with a smoke alarm on the bedside area now
Horse bolted………….Just feels safer
PMYS Swanwick came to the rescue and organized a chap from the third party factory team of upholstery makers to reline the cabin as despite huge efforts the smoke damage would not shift. There was no other fire damage to the boat; only some odd clothes and bedding / mattresses required replacement.
Burned dehumidifier
Area of fire – note broken electric socket, burnt bedding etc
Burned mattresses
Used extinguisher (near galley kettle) note ‘missing’ trigger from initial attempt
Opened switchboard panel to show only smoke damage
.
