This week it's a Donzi burning

[Kamper]

Boaters watch as a vessel burns on Lake Winnipesaukee in Alton yesterday. Authorities were investigating the fire that engulfed a 28-foot powerboat near Sleeper's Island. The Marine Patrol said there were few details other than the flames were put out by Alton and Gilford fire boats and that the operator, Joe Byrne, 55, of Canton, Mass., was taken off the burning vessel by a passing boater. (AP)

http://www.unionleader.com/

We've had about a half dozen boat accidents in NH this past week. I wish folks would be more careful.

27JUL05 - there is a photo but for some reason it wont move over.

Here is another link for anyone who views this after today...

http://www.thehulltruth.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=69781&posts=1#M693648

[Kamper]

http://www.citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050727/CITIZEN0107/107270050/-1/CITIZEN

By MELANIE NELSON
Staff Writer
mnelson@citizen.com


BOATERS WATCH as a vessel burns on Lake Winnipesaukee in Alton on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)



ALTON — When the driver of a performance boat opened the hatch cover and saw a fire in the engine, he immediately shut the cover and jumped overboard.

Alton Fire Chief Alan Johnson said no one was injured in Tuesday's fire that burned the boat completely down to the water line. Both Alton and Gilford's rescue boats responded to the fire and firefighters on the boat were able to extinguish the fire quickly, said Johnson.

The boat had been about a half-mile off shore in the area of Rum Point when the owner, Joe Bryne, 55, of Canton, Mass, and Alton, realized he was having engine trouble. Johnson said he opened the engine hatch and saw a fire in there then instantly dropped the cover back over the engine and jumped off the boat.

When fire crews arrived, he said the boat was completely engulfed in flames.

"It was fully involved. You could see it from the bay," said Johnson who stayed on shore as commander.

Johnson said he was told the boat was a 26-foot Donzie, which is a high performance racing boat. Marine Patrol towed the boat to Glendale Docks where an investigation will be conducted.

[Woodsy]

I know the boat... I almost bought it this spring. It was sitting at Gillian marine for about a year. I am sorry to see the new owner had something so awful happen.

I could have sworn that boat had a fire suppresion system. I think they should be mandatory on all boats!

I do disagree about the "Racing Boat" designation in the paper. That boat will barely get to 64-65 mph on a good day.

Woodsy

[Mee-n-Mac]

{snip} I could have sworn that boat had a fire suppresion system. I think they should be mandatory on all boats!
Woodsy

I'd be very surprised if it didn't have one. The question is did it trigger and if so, when ? I wonder how effective these things are (there's one under my engine hatch) once a gas & fiberglass fire gets going. I believe they're heat triggered and if you've got a fuel pump sending gas into the fire it might getting good and roaring before the extinguisher can help ? It does make one think about installing a fire port. Perhaps sending more "stuff" into the comparment might have helped.

[gtxrider]

If it was an electrical fire that started the blaze it is hard to put out without disconnecting the source by opening up the circiut (cutting the battery lead).

I have see the afore mentioned fire extinguisher port on TV. It is a good idea so that you need not open the engine cover supplying the fire with oxygen.

Do we all have a fully charged extinguisher that has the proper rating on our vessels?

[Mee-n-Mac]

While we're on the topic, FYI ...

Saf-C 403.05 Fire Extinguishers.
(a) Every motorboat shall be provided with such number, size, and type of fire extinguishers approved by Underwriter’s Laboratories, as set forth below, which are capable of promptly and completely extinguishing burning fuel. Said extinguishers shall be kept in condition for immediate use and so placed as to be readily accessible at all times.
(b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to:
(1) Motorboats propelled by outboard motors while competing in any authorized race or such use as is incidental to tuning up of such boats and motors for the race; or
(2) Rowboats, canoes or kayaks equipped with outboard electric motors only.
(c) A minimum number of B-1 hand portable fire extinguishers shall be required as set forth in Table 400.1 below:

Table 400-1 B-1 Hand Portable Fire Extinguishers
Boats in Class = A (< 16') 1- portable 0- fixed, in "machinery spaces"
Boats in Class = I (16'-26') 1- portable 0- fixed, in "machinery spaces"
Boats in Class = II (26'-40') 2- portable 1- fixed, in "machinery spaces"
Boats in Class = III (40'-65') 3- portable 2- fixed, in "machinery spaces"

(c) One B-2 hand portable fire extinguisher may be substituted for 2 B-1 hand portable fire extinguishers.
(d) Fire extinguisher classification shall comply with the requirements as set forth in Table 400.2 below:

Table 400.2
Type Size B-1 = 1.25 Gallons Foam or = 4 lbs Carbon Dioxide or = 2 lbs Dry Chemicals
Type Size B-2 = 1.5 Gallons Foam or = 15 lbs Carbon Dioxide or = 10 lbs Dry Chemicals
{I hope my reformatting and interpration, ie "or", of the table is correct}

Saf-C 403.06 Containers. The carrying of gasoline in glass or non-approved plastic containers, in accordance with Saf-C 6009.02, in any motorboat shall be prohibited.

Saf-C 403.07 Flame Arresters. The carburetor(s) of every engine installed on motorboats which use gasoline as fuel, except outboard motors, shall be fitted with a device which has demonstrated its ability to arrest backfire, and which has been approved or accepted by the U.S. coast guard.

My interpretation of the above is why I said I would be surprised if the Donzi didn't have an auto fire suppression system in the engine bay. As it happens I replaced one of my portables this season as I noticed that the pressure had dropped out of the "green". One other thing I've heard is that the pounding a boat takes over time can compact the powder in extinguishers such that they may not work even if the pressure shows "OK". Anyone know if this is true ?

Good point re: electrical fires. Now I'm worried ;) My battery switch is in the engine compartment, which while being a PITA, has always forced me to do a sniff test prior to starting the boat (blowers aside for the moment). Now what to I do ? Hmmm, time for a Rube Goldberg remote control (off only) for the switch I think ... could have the fire extinguisher, when triggered, cut off the batts. Yeah, that'll do it ! But what if I have a fire at night .... :rolleye2:

[jeffk]

My built in system is a halon system. The charge on the system can drop and need recharging but halon is a gas and, as far as I know, doesn't suffer from the compaction problems that most portable dry chemical extinguishers are susceptable to. My understanding is that the chemical systems should be shaken up from time to time to keep them at peak capability, even if the guage shows it's OK.

[Woodsy]

When I underwent the safe boat survey offered by the CG Auxillary, they told me not to store my fire extinguishers in the vertical position. The chemical settles to the bottom and compacts.... when you need it, all you get is a big wooosh of propellant without any chemical suppresant.

Woodsy

[RLW]

When I underwent the safe boat survey offered by the CG Auxillary, they told me not to store my fire extinguishers in the vertical position. The chemical settles to the bottom and compacts.... when you need it, all you get is a big wooosh of propellant without any chemical suppresant.

Woodsy
If this is the case, why don't they state it on the extinguuisher so that everyone knows this information and not just those that take a CG course. :)

[pmj]

Thats a very good point, RLW. If this is true then it should be on the extinguisher label. I personally have never seen anyone store an extinguisher in the horizontal position, wether it be in a home, business,institution or boat. The extinquisher mounting brackets all seem to be designed to hold the fire extinguisher vertically.

pmj

[Kamper]

I have heard differing explanations about dry-chemical extinguishers. Two tech/inspectors have told me to my face that the contents may crystalise after sitting for about 3 years undisturbed. That's why they do an inspection every 2 years.

On another forum a member claiming to be a tech said the "shake" was just for show to make it look like they were doing more than a visual inspection of the pressure guage and general cylinder condition.

Whatever the truth I prefer to give mine a little shake jsut to be safe.

[ApS]

"...I replaced one of my portables this season as I noticed that the pressure had dropped out of the "green"...."

The "Kidde" extinguishers you buy at Home Depot formerly had a little window in the box, so you could determine its condition by the gauge before you bought it. :look: No longer.

It should read "above full" when purchased, or it will have already started to slowly lose its pressure.

In the family's cars, I've mounted them horizontally in front of the passenger seat after having moved the seat all the way forward, and the seat-bottom bolster (if it had one) all the way forward. Passengers don't seem to be annoyed by the presence.

There is a compacting problem with the dry-chemical extinguishers; however, jarring them up-side-down just before using them will assure proper spraying.

So far, I've put out two fires: an English car :rolleye2: at a stop light, and a mechanic-friend who pulled a gasoline-soaked carpet out from under a sports car at the same time he dropped his lit cigarette.

I'm sold. :)

[RLW]

I have heard differing explanations about dry-chemical extinguishers. Two tech/inspectors have told me to my face that the contents may crystalise after sitting for about 3 years undisturbed. That's why they do an inspection every 2 years.

On another forum a member claiming to be a tech said the "shake" was just for show to make it look like they were doing more than a visual inspection of the pressure guage and general cylinder condition.

Whatever the truth I prefer to give mine a little shake jsut to be safe.
That every 2 year inspection is for commericial only I believe and then it is a weight check with a scale and a saftey pin and seal check only. No shaking is required. At least that is the way the fire marshal instructed me when it was my job 10 years ago doing fire safety checks on public buildings. :)

[jeffk]

Thats a very good point, RLW. If this is true then it should be on the extinguisher label. I personally have never seen anyone store an extinguisher in the horizontal position, wether it be in a home, business,institution or boat. The extinquisher mounting brackets all seem to be designed to hold the fire extinguisher vertically.

pmj

Mine came mounted on it's side in my SeaRay

[Outlaw]

Several of the boat manufacturers are now starting to mount the extinguishers horizontally and the mounting bracket is the same as the one used for vertical mounting. The manufacturers are just mounting them on a horizontal surface (such as SeaRay does).

It is TRUE that a vertically mounted extinguisher does compact. If you take your extinguisher, hold it in the middle and SLOWLY tilt it left then right (take about 2 seconds to make each move) you should feel movement of the contents. If the contents is sluggish or not moving, a jolt on the bottom of the extinguisher to the palm of your hand or on a dock or piling (don't bang it till its dead, just give it a jolt). You may have to do this one or more times before you will feel the contents move. Tip the extinguisher each time after you've given it a jolt to see if it dislodged the contents. Should this not work, it would be wise to invent in a new extinguisher.

Another important note about extinguishers, regardless of what the NH State and Federal Rules and Regulations are, having two extinguishers on board is just plain smart. One in the cockpit and one in the cabin. If you have a cabin fire and your ONLY extinguisher in in the cabin .... say no more.

It's also wise to have your extinguishers checked yearly, whether by yourself - or better yet during a complimentary, confidential Vessel Safety Check performed by the Lakes Region Sail & Power Squadron. In addition to checking you extinguisher(s) the vessel examiner is a wealth of boating safety and boating knowledge. It's always good when you can walk away having learned a thing or two.

Just good sense to have a vessel safety check done, it could help prevent an unfortunate incident because you were given the knowledge to take command and make sure your boat is safe. Not all accidents can be prevented, but if you can prevent one from happening to you, that's a good thing.

Check the forum for the Vessel Safety Check Schedule.

[Fat Jack]

Any chance this Donzi was preparing for a DB test? I'm reading a lot where the best way to temporarily alter your loud boat to cheat the DB test also creates a serious fire hazard. Anyone know if this boat had a pending test or had just come from one?
FJ

[Outlaw]

Any chance this Donzi was preparing for a DB test? I'm reading a lot where the best way to temporarily alter your loud boat to cheat the DB test also creates a serious fire hazard. Anyone know if this boat had a pending test or had just come from one?
FJThat temporary method to alter a loud boat creates what is called 'back pressure' and yes that can cause a boats motor(s) to overheat and possibly catch on fire depending on the motor(s), condition of them, and several other factors.

[ApS]

"...and those crazy two-piece ape hanger handlebars, which would come loose and swing back and forth. You should've seen it! I'd shove wads of steel wool into the mufflers to quiet it down for the cops, but when I was really hauling, it would shoot these glowing balls of flame out the back. Man, that's cool stuff when you're a kid...!" http://www.buell.com/en_us/buell_way/buell_on_buell/qaerikbuell.asp

I tried to quiet a bush-hog (a heavy-duty mower) once using this technique.

It was quiet, but it smoked the paint on the gas tank and eventually burned the exhaust valve. (Burned valves being a common complaint among certain boats).