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
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
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
<<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
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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