trawlers@lists.trawlering.com

TRAWLERS & TRAWLERING LIST

View all threads

TWL: Propane

BA
Bob Austin
Sun, Oct 27, 2002 11:18 PM

I have seen or personally know of a dozen boats that have exploded from
propane.  I know of two boats that burned with inverter problems and
probably a dozen that have had  fires from malfunctioning gensets/ or faulty
wiring.  About the same number of gasoline boats that I have seen explode.
I have used propane and would so again--but very very carefully! Being
burned is very serious--if you live the rehab is prolonged and painful, if
you die it is often painful and there is a lot of suffering.

Bob Austin

I have seen or personally know of a dozen boats that have exploded from propane. I know of two boats that burned with inverter problems and probably a dozen that have had fires from malfunctioning gensets/ or faulty wiring. About the same number of gasoline boats that I have seen explode. I have used propane and would so again--but very very carefully! Being burned is very serious--if you live the rehab is prolonged and painful, if you die it is often painful and there is a lot of suffering. Bob Austin
BW
Bob Walters
Mon, Oct 28, 2002 11:06 AM

Wow....Remind me not to stand too close to you.<g>

I've been involved with boats for 49 years and in all those years I've seen
ONE boat catch on fire at the dock because of an overloaded, old shore power
cord. It was quickly taken care of by simply jerking the cord and
discharging one fire extinguisher.

I have had this propane discussion with lots of folks over the years and I
have NEVER met anyone who claims to have seen a propane explosion in person.

I have met only a couple of people who claim to have seen (in person) a boat
catch on fire when refueling with gasoline.

I personally know only one person who has actually had a serious fire on
their boat and I suspect strongly that it was a case of the boat being
scuttled.

No doubt that diesel, gasoline, alcohol, electricity, and propane can all be
dangerous.  That's why one should use caution.

However, I wonder if you're hanging around with the wrong crowd?  Twenty
four explosions and fourteen electrical fires sounds like a war zone.

Y'all be careful out there, ya hear?

Bob Walters

I have seen or personally know of a dozen boats that have exploded from
propane.  <<> Bob Austin

Wow....Remind me not to stand too close to you.<g> I've been involved with boats for 49 years and in all those years I've seen ONE boat catch on fire at the dock because of an overloaded, old shore power cord. It was quickly taken care of by simply jerking the cord and discharging one fire extinguisher. I have had this propane discussion with lots of folks over the years and I have NEVER met anyone who claims to have seen a propane explosion in person. I have met only a couple of people who claim to have seen (in person) a boat catch on fire when refueling with gasoline. I personally know only one person who has actually had a serious fire on their boat and I suspect strongly that it was a case of the boat being scuttled. No doubt that diesel, gasoline, alcohol, electricity, and propane can all be dangerous. That's why one should use caution. However, I wonder if you're hanging around with the wrong crowd? Twenty four explosions and fourteen electrical fires sounds like a war zone. Y'all be careful out there, ya hear? Bob Walters > I have seen or personally know of a dozen boats that have exploded from > propane. <<> Bob Austin
RF
Ross Fleming
Mon, Oct 28, 2002 4:32 PM

On Mon, 28 Oct 2002 05:06:49 -0600, "Bob Walters"
bobandching@cox.net wrote:

However, I wonder if you're hanging around with the wrong crowd?  Twenty
four explosions and fourteen electrical fires sounds like a war zone.

Well I have personal experience with three electrical fires on

boats that I was aboard.  Fortunately none were serious.  All in the
last four years from 12V batteries. Bob has probably seen a bit more
than I.
One was due to an improper inverter installation that tried to
support a water heater when the shore power went out.  One was due to
a hose clamp slipping down below the alternator and causing a short
from an uninsulated stud on the case.  Finally this summer I had a
poorly crimped ring terminal on my alternator's charge circuit burn up
some 6AWG cable and the circuit breaker that it was attached to.


Ross Fleming        rossflem@serv.net
Seattle, WA

On Mon, 28 Oct 2002 05:06:49 -0600, "Bob Walters" <bobandching@cox.net> wrote: >However, I wonder if you're hanging around with the wrong crowd? Twenty >four explosions and fourteen electrical fires sounds like a war zone. Well I have personal experience with three electrical fires on boats that I was aboard. Fortunately none were serious. All in the last four years from 12V batteries. Bob has probably seen a bit more than I. One was due to an improper inverter installation that tried to support a water heater when the shore power went out. One was due to a hose clamp slipping down below the alternator and causing a short from an uninsulated stud on the case. Finally this summer I had a poorly crimped ring terminal on my alternator's charge circuit burn up some 6AWG cable and the circuit breaker that it was attached to. ___________________________________________________ Ross Fleming rossflem@serv.net Seattle, WA
MR
Mark Richter
Mon, Oct 28, 2002 6:25 PM

<<I have had this propane discussion with lots of folks over the years and I have NEVER met anyone who claims to have seen a propane explosion in person.>>

I once heard a propane explosion in person, and dinghied to the
scene about 3 minutes afterward.  This was in Georgetown, Exumas
in 1989.  The boat was a glass-over-wood homebuilt trimaran, left
in the innermost shallow basin near volleyball beach by the owner
who was stateside.  The owners friend had been to check on the
boat about 10 minutes prior to the explosion, at about 6AM.  The
boat was fully insured, which is very unusual for such a boat,
and I'd rate the chances that the explosion was intentional at
about 90%.  We dove on the sunken wreck, but there wasn't much
left to salvage.  Now you know why boat insurance is so
expensive.

Mark Richter, Winnie the Pooh


Do you Yahoo!?
Y! Web Hosting - Let the expert host your web site
http://webhosting.yahoo.com/

<<I have had this propane discussion with lots of folks over the years and I have NEVER met anyone who claims to have seen a propane explosion in person.>> I once heard a propane explosion in person, and dinghied to the scene about 3 minutes afterward. This was in Georgetown, Exumas in 1989. The boat was a glass-over-wood homebuilt trimaran, left in the innermost shallow basin near volleyball beach by the owner who was stateside. The owners friend had been to check on the boat about 10 minutes prior to the explosion, at about 6AM. The boat was fully insured, which is very unusual for such a boat, and I'd rate the chances that the explosion was intentional at about 90%. We dove on the sunken wreck, but there wasn't much left to salvage. Now you know why boat insurance is so expensive. Mark Richter, Winnie the Pooh __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Y! Web Hosting - Let the expert host your web site http://webhosting.yahoo.com/
AW
Andy Woods
Mon, Oct 28, 2002 11:28 PM

I have seen or personally know of a dozen boats that have exploded from
propane.  I know of two boats that burned with inverter problems and
probably a dozen that have had  fires from malfunctioning gensets/ or

faulty

wiring.  About the same number of gasoline boats that I have seen explode.

Hey Bob,

If we ever run into each other on a dock somewhere remind me to skeedaddle
and get my boat out of there! ;>)

Cheers,

Andy

Andy & Linda Woods
Grand Folly
1970 Grand Banks 36 Classic
Georgetown, MD
awoods@surfbest.net

> I have seen or personally know of a dozen boats that have exploded from > propane. I know of two boats that burned with inverter problems and > probably a dozen that have had fires from malfunctioning gensets/ or faulty > wiring. About the same number of gasoline boats that I have seen explode. Hey Bob, If we ever run into each other on a dock somewhere remind me to skeedaddle and get my boat out of there! ;>) Cheers, Andy Andy & Linda Woods Grand Folly 1970 Grand Banks 36 Classic Georgetown, MD awoods@surfbest.net