PetrolEngine users - important advice from BSS and MAIB

[BSSOffice]

Ignore petrol-engine exhaust fumes inside boats at your peril - it’s indicating your boat may be filling with carbon monoxide

If you can smell petrol-engine exhaust fumes inside your cabin or covered deck area, stop the engine, outboard or generator and get out warns the Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) – you may not have any leeway to escape the threat of carbon monoxide (CO).

The call follows the publication of the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) report into the circumstances that lead to two people dying from CO poisoning on their moored motor cruiser in Norfolk.
Continues here... www.boatsafetyscheme.org/about-us/news-and-press-releases/news-releases/nr17-001-ignore-co-at-your-peril/

 

[banger]

Surely applies to diesels as well, they too create Carbon Monoxide.

 

[oldgit]

Simple Google......


"While it is known that diesel fuel combustion engines produce much lower concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO) than gasoline engines, these emissions could certainly generate lethal ambient concentrations given a sufficient amount of time in an enclosed space and under suitable environmental conditions"

Petrol engines produce over 20 times the carbon monoxide that diesels do for the same amount of fuel.

 

[rosssavage]

One thing I never see mentioned in these CO warnings is using generators on the bow....

Plenty of times I see one strapped to the pulpit at the front, directly in front of an open hatch - CO is heavier than air, falling straight through the hatch into the cabin below...

Generators should only ever be used bankside, or on the bathing platform if you must. Preferably bank side though!!

 

[neale]

One thing I never see mentioned in these CO warnings is using generators on the bow....

Plenty of times I see one strapped to the pulpit at the front, directly in front of an open hatch - CO is heavier than air, falling straight through the hatch into the cabin below...

Generators should only ever be used bankside, or on the bathing platform if you must. Preferably bank side though!!

I may be mistaken, but I understood CO to be neither heavier nor lighter than air. It often rises due to the heat, but the advice for mounting CO alarms seems to indicate that it can accumulate at any level.

 

[boatone]

Generators should only ever be used bankside, or on the bathing platform if you must. Preferably bank side though!!

better still ban them altogether. A good electrical installation, sufficient battery capacity and, perhaps a solar panel much better and safer.

 

[rosssavage]

I may be mistaken, but I understood CO to be neither heavier nor lighter than air. It often rises due to the heat, but the advice for mounting CO alarms seems to indicate that it can accumulate at any level.

Yup, you're right - should have googled first!

Either way, I wince when I see a generator placed so close to a ventilation hatch....

B1 - yes, to a degree. No way I can live for 8 days on the booms at Henley without running my (inboard diesel) generator. I have toyed with solar, but I don't think it would be enough... (Two fridges in July, never mind lights TV etc..) and yes most lights are LED now!

 

[oldgit]

I may be mistaken, but I understood CO to be neither heavier nor lighter than air. It often rises due to the heat, but the advice for mounting CO alarms seems to indicate that it can accumulate at any level.

Because of the method of our central heating installation, boiler exhaust runs through 1st floor ceiling/floor voids, our alarms are on both ceilings and walls of rooms adjacent to boiler,on floors both above and below.
Engineer refused to sign of boiler until inspection hatches and extra alarms were installed.
The chap who services our central heating explained there had been fatalities in the past and all engineers had been warned to be especially vigilant,with no exceptions for any customers.

 

[BSSOffice]

On the subject of generators - taken from our website www.boatsafetyscheme.org/stay-safe/generator-safety/
These are the core points that should never be forgotten.

> Never install a portable generator permanently or make unauthorised modifications that are not supported by the manufacturer, or proprietary component supplier.

> Never run generators on the boat, or on the bank near to doors, vents, windows and hatches. If you can smell exhaust fumes in the boat, it could mean the cabin is also filling with deadly carbon monoxide.

> Never refuel any generator anywhere aboard the boat; take it to the bank and ensure you are a safe distance from other boats and potential sources of ignition.

However, make sure you are keeping to any marina or mooring-owner guidance and rules on the use of generators, refuelling and the handling of petrol on their sites.