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Bertram31.com General Bulletin Board
Re: fire extingushers
Posted By: Capt Partick McCrary In Response To: fire extingushers (phil)
Date: Sunday, 19 March 2006, at 8:16 p.m.
Phil,
If you're chartering and in need of a Coast Guard Certification, very little is actually "required"... Auto Fire Extinguishing Systems fall into the "Not Required" classification for pleasure boating.
However, there's very little that's more dangerous on the water than a fire. Hand held extinguishers are necessary and about the only protection you have in open areas, such as the galley.
Under the hood is another story. First you have fuel lines and a closed area. A fire there isn't going to draw attention as quickly as an open area. By the time it's noticed it can be a significanty larger fire. If the engines are running, the smoke will be pulled through the air intakes and pass out through the exhaust.
Once detected, it might be too late to deal with the blaze using a hand held unit.
Yeah, auto systems, such as the Xintex FireBoy, are expensive. But then what's your life and those others aboard worth?
Bite the bullet and buy the good stuff. AND keep 'em inspected & certified. A few hundred bucks is cheap cheese to protect a B31 & your hide from becoming a cinder.
Be sure to get the auto engine shut down model or your precious extinguishing materials will just be ingested into the running engine(s) and do no good in putting out the fire...
Br,
Patrick
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