Fire

[dt4134]

There was a new dry powder automatic fire extinguisher fitted in the engine compartment just before I bought my boat. I've never been entirely happy with having a dry powder extinguisher, so I'm going to replace it with a halon replacement one.

That will leave me with a spare automatic extinguisher, so I might as well put it to some use. I've a few ideas where I could put it but nothing really to go on regarding what would be the next biggest fire risk after the engine.

So I'd be interested in any first hand tales of any fires on board and what started them.

 

[TQA]

HALON ! Illegal now innit.

 

[FistralG]

There was a new dry powder automatic fire extinguisher fitted in the engine compartment just before I bought my boat. I've never been entirely happy with having a dry powder extinguisher, so I'm going to replace it with a halon replacement one.

That will leave me with a spare automatic extinguisher, so I might as well put it to some use. I've a few ideas where I could put it but nothing really to go on regarding what would be the next biggest fire risk after the engine.

So I'd be interested in any first hand tales of any fires on board and what started them.

BBQ's apparently!

 

[VicS]

HALON ! Illegal now innit.

A "halon replacement" one he said.

 

[dt4134]

HALON ! Illegal now innit.

That's what she had when surveyed, hence the dry powder one being fitted just before I bought her.

You can still buy Halon replacement extinguishers.

 

[Hoolie]

HALON ! Illegal now innit.

He said "halon replacement".

Can't think of a good place place for an automatic powder extinguisher other than in the area of the cooker/oven. We've got non-automatics in various places, including the cockpit, which might be your last resort

ps Agree a powder is no-go for the engine compartment

 

[sarabande]

Paraffin stove requiring meths to warm up the burner. Overfilled by my bro's GF, and the meths flared up with low temp flames about 18inches high. Various paper towels caught alight, so the small blaze was tackled with an extinguisher which turned out (shows my lack of preparation !) to be a power one.

It took a whole day to clear up the mess.


BTW, that was in 1974.

 

[PetiteFleur]

I replaced my 3 powder extinguishers with the Foam ones soon after I bought my boat after I saw the mess that the powder ones make after a friend used one to put out a small kitchen fire. I also fitted an Automatic 'Halon Replacement' one in the engine compartment. I used these people http://www.firemart.co.uk/1ltr-foam-fire-extinguisher?cPath=72_95_98

 

[alan_d]

A "halon replacement" one he said.

It is difficult to convey in writing the important difference between a halon replacement (PAUSE) fire-extinguisher and a halon (PAUSE) replacement fire extingusher.

 

[Seajet]

My little experience of a fire on board was in a Carter 30, the flexible gas hose to the gymballed cooker was the metal 'armoured' type.

I couldn't see the inner hose had fractured when I put the kettle on, so when I turned back from the chart there was a jet of flame from the back of the cooker.

I grabbed a dry powder extinguisher, and chum turned the gas off at the bottle in the cockpit.

The fire was out in seconds, but we had a long cold sail with no cuppa soups etc, it was September.

I didn't realise how corrosive the powder is, and delayed clearing it up ( while my heart rate subsided ); it left small black pitting on the woodwork, fortunately not in an obvious area.

 

[dt4134]

Thanks for your answers everyone.

Also seems to be good news that very people on the forum have experienced fire on board.

I couldn't really use the dry powder automatic fire extinguisher in the galley, but I do have a couple of fire blankets there and a couple of manual fire extinguisher nearby.

I should be safe from the barbecue. I don't have one for a start and if I did it would probably rain whenever I tried to light it.

 

[lw395]

The thing about dry powder extinguishers is that they are very effective.
Also suitable for every type of fire.
If you can't put it out with a wet tea towel, perhaps it is not time to be worrying about the mess from the powder?

Is there an issue with having an automatic gas extinguisher in the engine compartment that might go off while someone was asleep in the aft cabin?

 

[aztec]

There was a new dry powder automatic fire extinguisher fitted in the engine compartment just before I bought my boat. I've never been entirely happy with having a dry powder extinguisher, so I'm going to replace it with a halon replacement one.

That will leave me with a spare automatic extinguisher, so I might as well put it to some use. I've a few ideas where I could put it but nothing really to go on regarding what would be the next biggest fire risk after the engine.

So I'd be interested in any first hand tales of any fires on board and what started them.

Have a look at previous posts (some by myself) on AFFF fire extinuishers.

or PM me and I'll point you in the general direction.

Steve.