What's the best fire extinguisher for a sportboat?

[ari]

What\'s the best fire extinguisher for a sportboat?

For a small sportsboat, what would be the best type of fire extinguisher?

It already has a fixed auto extinguisher in the engine space but I feel it ought to have a handheld one too.

There's no cooking facilities on board so I'm guessing likely fire source would probably be an electrical fault, or maybe if someone were smoking on board (very unlikely) and dropped a lit lighter or something? Can't think what else might set it off.

It's a petrol boat but in the event of a petrol fire a handheld isn't going to do a lot anyway, be more a case of trying to get off fast.

So what would be the best type to have aboard?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[Nickcf]

Re: What\'s the best fire extinguisher for a sportboat?

probably dry powder which is good for flammable liquid fires and safe on electrical (although presumably only 12v electrics so no inherent danger.

Engine compartment needs an alternative to the now banned halon.

 

[ari]

Re: What\'s the best fire extinguisher for a sportboat?

Indeed, no 240v.

I believe Halon was banned a year or two ago? So won't be Halon extinguisher in there, although don't know what it is. Must check...

 

[Tisme]

Re: What\'s the best fire extinguisher for a sportboat?

[ QUOTE ]
12v electrics so no inherent danger.


[/ QUOTE ]

??? Have you seen what happens when a battery is shorted out?

 

[Nickcf]

Re: What\'s the best fire extinguisher for a sportboat?

the quote was in the context of getting a potentially lethal shock from high voltage sources, such as 240v mains, when using fire extinguishers (eg water). Anything below 50v is classified as low voltage and safe which is why the terminals on top of a battery are not protected against contact with fingers etc.

Obviously batteries are dangerous in many other respects.

 

[mirage]

Re: What\'s the best fire extinguisher for a sportboat?

[ QUOTE ]
Anything below 50v is classified as low voltage and safe which is why the terminals on top of a battery are not protected against contact with fingers etc.

[/ QUOTE ]

Anything below 50 V DC (or 120V AC) is classed as Extra Low Voltage, Low voltage is between 50 and 1000 V AC and between 75 and 1500 V DC.

 

[marcusgillies]

Re: What\'s the best fire extinguisher for a sportboat?

get your self a 2kg dry powder ABC handheld extinguisher and fix it by the helm.

then JOB DONE!!

 

[ari]

Re: What\'s the best fire extinguisher for a sportboat?

Right thats two for dry powder and none for anything else, so guess dry powder it is then.

Thanks chaps. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif