Very Scary Fire Aquastar 38

rafiki_ said:
Probably best not to point fingers with no knowledge. I expect we have a boat owner who is
1 Grateful to be alive
2 Devastated at losing their boat
3 Racking their brains considering what they could have done to prevent this.
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100%.. I am usually the expert on other people's 'mistakes' and a complete novice on my own. There will always be something on our boats that could have been safer, more recently serviced, wired up differently. Yep sometimes there is the blatant neglect or doing something ridiculous. Then someone needs a quiet word with that person, but more often than not it's more.....accidents happen..

I certainly feel for both the owners of the Princess and the Aquastar. I put a lot more sweat and tears into my boat than the insurance payout would compensate me for.
 
It happened to me back in 2018. Wouldn’t wish it on anyone. Had a few keyboard experts on here making comments on my maintenance routine but how would they know how I maintain my boat.
I wonder what engines Fast Flow had…

markc said:
The reality is, that could have been any of us.
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Dino said:
It happened to me back in 2018. Wouldn’t wish it on anyone. Had a few keyboard experts on here making comments on my maintenance routine but how would they know how I maintain my boat.
I wonder what engines Fast Flow had…
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what caused your fire?

Always interested to learn from others experiences......
 
Juliens,
Very hard to know for sure in my case but the engines were Perkins HT6354’s lying on their sides. There have been lots of fires with these engines and it’s commonly related to the oil cooled turbo pipe work.
 
Mr Googler said:
Perkins

SOLD Aquastar 38' | Aquastar Luxury Yachts

looked a lovely boat ?
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Indeed a lovely boat and no doubt the owners will be devastated at her loss.

We have those engines and I have heard of a couple of fires. One caused by a fuel pipe on the side of the engine wearing through due to vibration.

I have been told that another weak spot is an oil pipe near the turbo, which is encased in the turbo cover and can corrode resulting in oil leaking into the hot turbo. Anyone who has done a firefighting course will know how easily oil bursts into flame compared to diesel.

Both areas to keep an eye on - I will be taking the turbo covers off at the weekend to check ours having seen this!
.
 
Really just so sad to see, she was a beautiful boat, I'm very happy that everyone got off safe and sound.

I don't think anyone will ever know the real cause but my thoughts go out to the owner it must have been terrifying.
 
Last year while on board in the marina we heard a loud bang coming from the slipway. An 18ft bowrider was in flames. Despite emptying 2 large extinguishers on it it would not go out, wind was not helping. The speed at which it progressed was staggering. As was the volume of smoke. In most of these cases it seems that once the fire starts that's it. Scary stuff indeed.
 
I'm currently refurbishing my 35' sedan, I'm nearly at the point of putting in fire extinguishers, gas, smoke and monoxide alarms etc.
seeing the gear fitted to this burnt out boat, "Automatic fire extinguisher in engine room. Halyard exhaust overheat alert on all 3 engines. "
I just wonder how effective these actually are?

I have 2 large 6cyl HINO turbo engines, 2 large port and starboard diesel tanks and all new battery banks, charger etc. in the engine compartment.

I want to fit auto extinguisher's in here and in the rear storage area where i have fitted a Webasto diesel water heater.
Will also fit fire fighting ports around the boat where i can manually engage more extinguisher's to targeted areas of risk without opening floor or hatches letting more oxygen in to fuel a fire.
Fire Extinguisher Port Polished Stainless Steel Model (asap-supplies.com)

Any further suggestions welcome please.
 
Diesel
Falcoron said:
I'm currently refurbishing my 35' sedan, I'm nearly at the point of putting in fire extinguishers, gas, smoke and monoxide alarms etc.
seeing the gear fitted to this burnt out boat, "Automatic fire extinguisher in engine room. Halyard exhaust overheat alert on all 3 engines. "
I just wonder how effective these actually are?

I have 2 large 6cyl HINO turbo engines, 2 large port and starboard diesel tanks and all new battery banks, charger etc. in the engine compartment.

I want to fit auto extinguisher's in here and in the rear storage area where i have fitted a Webasto diesel water heater.
Will also fit fire fighting ports around the boat where i can manually engage more extinguisher's to targeted areas of risk without opening floor or hatches letting more oxygen in to fuel a fire.
Fire Extinguisher Port Polished Stainless Steel Model (asap-supplies.com)

Any further suggestions welcome please.
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As well as auto extinguishers, which imho as a stand alone are insufficient you need additionally …..

1- Engine kill switches by the helm - Diesels are very efficient gas pumps and when running will suck in any gas and try and ignite it .

2- Air vent flaps -Theses are spring loaded and triggered by a toggle by the helm .Reason 0 2 feeds fires .An escape route for the gas too .

3 - Tank isolation valves again toggles by the helm .Reason even diesel burns if it’s hot enough and you fuel pipes are soft .

4 A manual pull toggle to trigger the gas canister .Reason why wait for the wax bulb to melt , it might be too late .

5- A way if fitted to kill ER ventilation fans .See 1 ^


Not familiar with the race to the bottom build std of a stand alone auto fit and forget extinguishers many production boats leave the yards with tbh .They do sometimes have a ignition interlock cutting the engines .Buts that not enough in my book .Seafire being a typical example.

As far as your “ Halyard “ temp gauges , it too late once these are burning ?.
A better solution is a inlet water pump pressure gauge/ alarm to monitor inlet water pump pressure .
Or , and well as in my boats case metal exhaust through and through getting rid of rubber bits .

Just needs a bit of thought.
You need three things for fire .
1- Heat .
2- combustible material .
3- Oxygen .

All 3 simultaneous remove any one = no fire .

Hope this helps ?
 
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