Fire extinguishers - keep all inside the boat?

[cmedsailor]

I have 3 fire extinguishers, powder and CO2, on board that I keep them in the galley/engine area (well everything is close anyway). In general they are kept in places where you can grab them easily as long as you get into the boat.
My concern is whether I should keep one outside in the cockpit, in a lazarette for instance. In other words what if the boat is on fire and you cannot get inside. Where do you keep yours?

 

[duncan99210]

One in saloon, one in each cockpit locker. Fire blanket by the galley. If I were paranoid, I'd perhaps add one in each cabin (1 forward, 2 aft).

 

[Seajet]

As my boat uses an outboard in a well, I keep a special foam extinguisher suitable for petrol fires in my cockpit bridgedeck locker, along with an auto job above the tank.

I did a firefighting course when I joined BAe and worked with the award winning Dunsfold airfield firemen a lot, and frankly I don't give much for my chances unless I put out a fire in the first few moments...

I place all extinguishers slightly away from the possible sources of bother; fuel & gas lockers & galley - so a person fighting the fire has to turn away, a possible life saver and it means the extinguisher is not within the fire.

I have 5 decent size extinguishers and a fire blanket by the galley; I've seen a boat blow up due to what started as a small galley fire, also had a gas fire on another boat I had, and although it was extinguished quickly I didn't rate it as fun !

 

[Hoolie]

One in saloon, one with fire blanket by galley, one in each cabin (2), one in engine bay and one in port cockpit locker.

 

[boatmike]

I have 3 fire extinguishers, powder and CO2, on board that I keep them in the galley/engine area (well everything is close anyway). In general they are kept in places where you can grab them easily as long as you get into the boat.
My concern is whether I should keep one outside in the cockpit, in a lazarette for instance. In other words what if the boat is on fire and you cannot get inside. Where do you keep yours?

Highly recommend at least one either just inside or outside the companionway so that you can fight a fire from outside if necessary. Exact location will depend on the boat layout. I have automatics in both engine bays (to avoid opening hatches and feeding oxygen) 2 at the companionway and one in the galley. Frankly though I think at the galley a fireblanket is possibly more effective and always have this hung up near the cooker (but not so near you couldn't reach it in a fire)
Be very careful of using Co2 in any confined space. You need oxygen to breathe!

 

[Amulet]

I have 3 fire extinguishers, powder and CO2, on board that I keep them in the galley/engine area (well everything is close anyway). In general they are kept in places where you can grab them easily as long as you get into the boat.
My concern is whether I should keep one outside in the cockpit, in a lazarette for instance. In other words what if the boat is on fire and you cannot get inside. Where do you keep yours?

An insurance survey asked me to move one to where it could be reached from outside the companion hatch.

 

[maxi77]

In my last two boats I have had a larger sized extinguisher either in the cockpit or one of the lockers, simply because a lot of the time you are aboard you are in the cockpit or deck so may need to fight a fire from there.

On the present boat there is a large foam attached to the steering pedestal where it is out of the way but very accesable.

 

[prv]

I don't have a convenient cockpit locker - the only external locker is in the stern deck, aft of the mizzen mast, and not particularly easy to access from the cockpit. So I don't keep one in there. If I had a conventional cockpit locker I probably would put an extinguisher in it.

On the other hand, there is generally a bucket on a lanyard lurking under the thwart at the aft end of the cockpit.

Otherwise, I have a fire blanket by the stove, a small powder extinguisher near the forward end of the cabin, a large powder below the companionway steps, and an auto foam in the engine bay. I'm planning to replace the large powder with a similar-sized foam (already bought) after seeing the YM white-out video.

Pete

 

[snooks]

I'm planning to replace the large powder with a similar-sized foam (already bought) after seeing the YM white-out video.

What? This one??

 

[prv]

What? This one??

That's the badger. Very important video as far as I'm concerned - stuff like "a cushion bunged in a hole works quite well" or "hacksaws are good for cutting shrouds" can be understood readily as text, but the way a powder extinguisher obscures all vision really needs to be seen to be believed.

Pete

 

[Bav34]

Port locker

Starboard locker

Engine bay automatic

Under chart table ... opposite galley

Extinguisher under seat

 

[photodog]

I suspect that is the original??? Mine is the same...I am replacing them this winter...


As per the OP

One in saloon, one in aft locker, one in engine bay, one in each cabin.

You shouldnt have to look for them...

 

[Jim@sea]

I was on a trip from Hollyhead to Liverpool and I went below to put the kettle on. When I lit the GAS BURNER there was a small explosion and the stove was on fire. Instead of pithing about with an extinguisher, I ran up the stairs and ran so fast past my 2 friends that they thought I was jumping overboard, straight to the Gas Bottle where I turned it off. The flames immediatly went out. Aparrently a gas pipe had worked loose.
Its not just knowing where the extinguishers are that counts.