'old' fire extinguishers...what to do with them?

[ChattingLil]

I have two fire extinguishers that I had to replace to comply with boat safety certificate. They are probsbly ok, but needed to be replaced because they are dated with no service history. Seems a shame to dump them and I wouldn't know where to get rid of them anyway . What shall I do with them? Anyone know who might be able to use them.. Say for a drill?

 

[Rigger Mortice]

Use them for your own drill so that you know what to expect in an emergency.

 

[sailorman]

what replacements did you buy

and why the BSS, you are tidal

 

[sarabande]

based on what I have learned in the last two weeks, provided the casing is not damaged by corrosion or dents, it is perfectly possible to have an extinguisher fully serviced, with all new contents and trigger kit.


Whether that is cheaper than waiting till Lidl/Aldi comeup with their next offer, is another matter.



BTW, from yesterday's H&S course for farmers, if you have a powder extinguisher sufficiently near the engine to feel the vibrations of the motor, then you should invert the extinguisher very couple of weeks, or give it a very good shaking to prevent the powder inside from 'caking', and being almost useless when you need it.

 

[ChattingLil]

what replacements did you buy

and why the BSS, you are tidal

we're moving...its requirement of new place as is connected to inland. We started to argue the toss but life is too short and it's cheap andeasy enough to comply.

Good idea to have our own test.

 

[prv]

I gave mine to http://www.somakeit.org.uk , as a mate of mine is one of the founder members and let it be known that he was on the scrounge for various items including extinguishers.

Using them for a practice sounds like an excellent idea though - just watch out if they're powder as you'll have a lot of mess to clear up!

Pete

 

[prv]

BTW, from yesterday's H&S course for farmers, if you have a powder extinguisher sufficiently near the engine to feel the vibrations of the motor, then you should invert the extinguisher very couple of weeks, or give it a very good shaking to prevent the powder inside from 'caking', and being almost useless when you need it.

On a sailing boat we have a better option - mount it horizontally athwartships and it gets inverted on every tack.

Personally though I'd rather have water-mist or foam on a boat, having seen the powder white-out on the Crash Test Boat video.

Pete

 

[sailorman]

we're moving...its requirement of new place as is connected to inland. We started to argue the toss but life is too short and it's cheap andeasy enough to comply.

Good idea to have our own test.

Limehouse ????

 

[sailorman]

On a sailing boat we have a better option - mount it horizontally athwartships and it gets inverted on every tack.

Personally though I'd rather have water-mist or foam on a boat, having seen the powder white-out on the Crash Test Boat video.

Pete

I replaced powder with foam last year
Nationwide fire extinguishers were the best value @ the time

 

[prv]

I replaced powder with foam last year
Nationwide fire extinguishers were the best value @ the time

Yep, good choice. I switched to foam on Kindred Spirit, but have yet to get round to it on Ariam. She's still got the powder-bottles she came with, but they will be replaced in due course.

Pete

 

[alan_d]

Use them for your own drill so that you know what to expect in an emergency.

That's what I did with one of mine - tried it out on the garden bonfire (and it worked).

 

[Lakesailor]

BTW, from yesterday's H&S course for farmers, if you have a powder extinguisher sufficiently near the engine to feel the vibrations of the motor, then you should invert the extinguisher very couple of weeks, or give it a very good shaking to prevent the powder inside from 'caking', and being almost useless when you need it.

Good point. I will do that tomorrow. It's mounted on the gearbox.

 

[William_H]

Good point. I will do that tomorrow. It's mounted on the gearbox.

I would imagine Phil's extinguisher would get a fair bit of stiring with G forces on turns. olewill

 

[onesea]

Limehouse ????

Just trying to think where else is connected to the inland water ways.
Calley Marine, Calidonian Canal.
Garston,
Liverpool Marina,
I am sure there is more, looks like the bureaucracy is heading our way....

 

[ChattingLil]

I Using them for a practice sounds like an excellent idea though - just watch out if they're powder as you'll have a lot of mess to clear up!Pete

ah, yes. Unfortunately, I learned that lesson once. Sitting in the cockpit on a lonely afternoon with the Devil making work for my idle thumb....

On a sailing boat we have a better option - mount it horizontally athwartships and it gets inverted on every tack.Pete

this was recommended to me. All powder extinguishers should be given a shake up every few weeks to prevent the powder becoming compacted.

Limehouse ????

yep.

I am sure there is more, looks like the bureaucracy is heading our way....

Maybe. We were going to argue as with nearly 2m draft and 17m airdraft we are clearly not going up the canal....however, as the boat is very new to us, we thought it was worthwhile being forced to consider some of the safety checks anyway and, for us, it's simple as we don't have any gas.

 

[prv]

I would imagine Phil's extinguisher would get a fair bit of stiring with G forces on turns. olewill

Doesn't he mostly drive around at about walking pace?

Pete

 

[The Dogs Pollacks Brother]

I will have them if they are co2 ...so will a lot of people who keep a planted aquarium with a co2 system!

 

[Twister_Ken]

Why not keep them aboard? If you've used up the new ones, and the fire's not quite out, you might wish you had another extinguisher handy!