Graham376
Well-known member
Possibly easy to say when sitting at home but, I suspect that fire could have been doused - (353) SSL657 ~ the boat SANK in MINUTES.!! - YouTube
Fire Sinks Yacht
- Thread starter Graham376
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Sandy
Well-known member
Clearly a skipper who has not thought through what he is going to do in the event of a fire.
Its simple shout FIRE, FIRE, FIRE at the top of your voice run down the stairs, grab your extinguisher of choice and point it at the flames.
Is that a picture of 'wisps of smoke' in the companion way? Did he really stop and take pictures? Went and got his passport. Clearly not engaging brain.
Its simple shout FIRE, FIRE, FIRE at the top of your voice run down the stairs, grab your extinguisher of choice and point it at the flames.
Is that a picture of 'wisps of smoke' in the companion way? Did he really stop and take pictures? Went and got his passport. Clearly not engaging brain.
penfold
Well-known member
Underwhelming; know where your fuel cut-off valve is! Installed extinguishing gear is cheap insurance.
jlavery
Well-known member
Got me thinking about my extinguisher arrangements.
The main engine compartment is too small to fit an auto extinguisher. However, the compartment rear of the engine - giving access to the saildrive and, more importantly, the air intake, would probably have room.
Then choice is between FE-36 (like Halon) or powder. My preference would be for the gas rather than powder for obvious mess reasons.
Thoughts from those who have more experience/knowledge?
The main engine compartment is too small to fit an auto extinguisher. However, the compartment rear of the engine - giving access to the saildrive and, more importantly, the air intake, would probably have room.
Then choice is between FE-36 (like Halon) or powder. My preference would be for the gas rather than powder for obvious mess reasons.
Thoughts from those who have more experience/knowledge?
RunAgroundHard
Well-known member
On a runaway diesel, fuel shut off may not work, fire extinguishers may not work. The only reliable solution is to isolate the air supply at the inlet to the engine. Small industrial engines which present an ignition risk to the wider facility if runaway happens, are usually fitted with a positive air shutoff valve such as the Chalwin series of PASVs: -
Chalwyn-CategoryProducts
The video says the engine stopped on its own, it may have seized, or it may have run out of fuel, but he states that it stopped abruptly, so maybe seized up.
It takes a brave person to open an engine room hatch and ram a bung into an air intake as the engine is roaring out of control. However, if you have such a device, know how to access the air intake safely, have practised, then it could be done confidently. Of course, there are many reasons why an engine could be running away: common rail issue, worn motor drawing up sump oil contaminated with diesel and compression igniting it (dieseling), external inflatable gas being sucked into air intake.
On my own engine the air filter housing would prohibit ramming a bung into the air intake, I would have to take the air filter off, something which I would not do if the motor was running away.
Chalwyn-CategoryProducts
The video says the engine stopped on its own, it may have seized, or it may have run out of fuel, but he states that it stopped abruptly, so maybe seized up.
It takes a brave person to open an engine room hatch and ram a bung into an air intake as the engine is roaring out of control. However, if you have such a device, know how to access the air intake safely, have practised, then it could be done confidently. Of course, there are many reasons why an engine could be running away: common rail issue, worn motor drawing up sump oil contaminated with diesel and compression igniting it (dieseling), external inflatable gas being sucked into air intake.
On my own engine the air filter housing would prohibit ramming a bung into the air intake, I would have to take the air filter off, something which I would not do if the motor was running away.
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DanTribe
Well-known member
I recently had a small electrical fire, I think the solar panel wiring or control panel shorted. Loads of smoke coming from various cockpit vents so it wasn't immediately obvious where the source was. We had thought through a contingency plan beforehand in case of such an emergency but I have to say that your brain doesn't work in a calm and logical way.
Stemar
Well-known member
This is the problem. What's obvious to us, sitting in a nice warm dry chair at our computers suddenly isn't when it all hits the fan. That's why the military does drill after drill after drill until everyone's sick of it and can do it in their sleep. That way, they'll be able to do it when the fear's running down their leg,
One question. I can see why one wouldn't want to be too close to an engine that's running out of control at several times its design rpm, but what is the likelihood of it actually going off like a bomb and spraying lethal shrapnel? Yes, I could see a broken rod coming out the side, and the bits might sting a bit, but serious injury? ISTM that a diesel engine block and head are pretty sturdy, so while the damage is going to be terminal for the engine, it's most likely to be internal.
I wouldn't want to get my hands too close to the air intake, so would having a wooden bung of suitable dimensions near it, same as we do for seacocks, be a good idea?
penfold
Well-known member
Difficulty here is that we don't really know what happened; the smoke followed by partial then total loss of control via the lever might indicate a deepseated fire affecting the lever cables, in which case the fuel cut-off might well work and also removes one potential source of additional fuel. A fire extinguisher port in the engine casing is something I've read about several times and has merit, especially if one can be sited next to the air intake, then a CO2 extinguisher could be used to smother proceedings.
How small is it? The small units are not much bigger than a wine bottle these days.
Wansworth
Well-known member
One reason authorities practice emergencies,play acting although seems a bit silly can at least enable a real plan to evolve
Sandy
Well-known member
Some interesting comments above.
Thinking about the 'red mist', think it through, practice, practice practice.
Position of extinguishers: Most boats have a table in the centre of the saloon directly opposite the companionway steps under which the engine is housed. Attach a large 3/6 ltr WATER MIST extinguisher on the table leg, once you are in the saloon you can grab it and point the hose either through the wee hole into the engine compartment or where ever the flames smoke is coming from.
Forget CO2 onboard they are for electrical fires. Powder work but you can't fight a fire in a confined space as you can't breath or see. Understand what types fire you have onboard and get an extinguisher that fights all of them. For me water mist ticks all the boxes.
Thinking about the 'red mist', think it through, practice, practice practice.
Position of extinguishers: Most boats have a table in the centre of the saloon directly opposite the companionway steps under which the engine is housed. Attach a large 3/6 ltr WATER MIST extinguisher on the table leg, once you are in the saloon you can grab it and point the hose either through the wee hole into the engine compartment or where ever the flames smoke is coming from.
Forget CO2 onboard they are for electrical fires. Powder work but you can't fight a fire in a confined space as you can't breath or see. Understand what types fire you have onboard and get an extinguisher that fights all of them. For me water mist ticks all the boxes.
Graham376
Well-known member
That skipper reminds me of the guy who arrived in Algarve from Hamble on his way to the ARC and asked if I could show him where his dip-stick was as he normally had "a man" to check his oil for him. Unlike a car, runaway boat engine can be slowed by keeping in gear to prop govern it. We have a 3 litre foam extinguisher close to engine door and the hose can be poked through a finger hole without opening it. Also have 3 x 1kg dry powder and a deck wash pump and hose.
