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GK

Gary Kleaman

Thu, Jun 27, 2002 4:46 AM

In early June we departed Ventura for Vancouver, B.C. leaving at 08:30.
Weather wasn't bad but by noon was blowing about 35 NW.
About 3 miles out from Co Jo Anchorage, 3 miles offshore, we expenrienced a
fire in the exhaust system, where the dry exhaust runs up through the cabin.
First noticed a red glow in the panneling, which quickly burst throgh into the
cabin.

We were able to put the fire out by firing our extinguishers through the hole
in the panel, and down the top of the stack.

Over the next hour the fire flared up twice more. As we were running out of
extinguishers, we decided to pull some of the panneling to get at the source.
We hadn't done so for fear of giving the area more oxygen, but felt we had to
now.

The area was smouldering and we were able to extingush the last of it.

Needless to say we returned to Port and are still waiting for competion of
repairs.

Two things I would like to pass on from this. One, those 5 lb extinquishers
do not last at all. Three or four squirts and it's all over. Replacing with
much larger units.

Second, dry chemical is not nice stuff. It makes a tremendous mess, and
doesn't lower the temperature of the fire area. Co 2 or water would have been
better.

We will now be looking to head up coast around the middle of August. Whats
the weather like at that time? Appreciate any info.

Gary Kleaman, "Buena Vista"

In early June we departed Ventura for Vancouver, B.C. leaving at 08:30. Weather wasn't bad but by noon was blowing about 35 NW. About 3 miles out from Co Jo Anchorage, 3 miles offshore, we expenrienced a fire in the exhaust system, where the dry exhaust runs up through the cabin. First noticed a red glow in the panneling, which quickly burst throgh into the cabin. We were able to put the fire out by firing our extinguishers through the hole in the panel, and down the top of the stack. Over the next hour the fire flared up twice more. As we were running out of extinguishers, we decided to pull some of the panneling to get at the source. We hadn't done so for fear of giving the area more oxygen, but felt we had to now. The area was smouldering and we were able to extingush the last of it. Needless to say we returned to Port and are still waiting for competion of repairs. Two things I would like to pass on from this. One, those 5 lb extinquishers do not last at all. Three or four squirts and it's all over. Replacing with much larger units. Second, dry chemical is not nice stuff. It makes a tremendous mess, and doesn't lower the temperature of the fire area. Co 2 or water would have been better. We will now be looking to head up coast around the middle of August. Whats the weather like at that time? Appreciate any info. Gary Kleaman, "Buena Vista"

MM

Michael Maurice

Thu, Jun 27, 2002 5:21 AM

At 09:46 PM 6/26/02, you wrote:

Needless to say we returned to Port and are still waiting for competion of
repairs.

Two things I would like to pass on from this. One, those 5 lb extinquishers
do not last at all. Three or four squirts and it's all over. Replacing with
much larger units.

Second, dry chemical is not nice stuff. It makes a tremendous mess, and
doesn't lower the temperature of the fire area. Co 2 or water would have been
better.

Gary,
I have harped on this dry chemical mess problem before. The old bicarb of
soda was much eaisier to clean up than the newer but "stronger" dry
chemical materials.
Dry stack fires are notorious for being slow to show themselves and hard to
put out.
The last boat with dry exhaust was a 72' a few months ago. We bought 2
extra B-11 extinquishers for it and I would have preferred another 25
pounds of CO2. In this boat there were several heat sensors right where the
exhausts started up the stack, but I am convinced there should be at least
one in the stack near the top.

Regards,

Capt. Mike Maurice
Near Portland Oregon.

At 09:46 PM 6/26/02, you wrote: >Needless to say we returned to Port and are still waiting for competion of >repairs. > >Two things I would like to pass on from this. One, those 5 lb extinquishers >do not last at all. Three or four squirts and it's all over. Replacing with >much larger units. > >Second, dry chemical is not nice stuff. It makes a tremendous mess, and >doesn't lower the temperature of the fire area. Co 2 or water would have been >better. Gary, I have harped on this dry chemical mess problem before. The old bicarb of soda was much eaisier to clean up than the newer but "stronger" dry chemical materials. Dry stack fires are notorious for being slow to show themselves and hard to put out. The last boat with dry exhaust was a 72' a few months ago. We bought 2 extra B-11 extinquishers for it and I would have preferred another 25 pounds of CO2. In this boat there were several heat sensors right where the exhausts started up the stack, but I am convinced there should be at least one in the stack near the top. Regards, Capt. Mike Maurice Near Portland Oregon.

KR

Kevin Redden

Fri, Jun 28, 2002 1:51 AM

-----Original Message-----
From: trawler-world-list-admin@lists.samurai.com
On Behalf Of Gary Kleaman
Subject: TWL: fire on board

I........................ those 5 lb extinquishers
do not last at all. Three or four squirts and it's all over.
Replacing with much larger units.

Gary,

I'm glad to see things worked out OK. One of the best fire extinguishers you
can have on board is your good old bucket, with a six foot lanyard on it. It
self recharges (with a quick dip over the side), and it just can not run out
of fluid. It also can put a pretty high volume of supressant on the fire in
short order.

While you still need the USCG accepted extinguishers on board to keep the
coasties happy, I always have the bucket-with-lanyard available as a backup.
It sound like in your case, it would have been real useful.

Cheers,
Kevin
www.BoatM9oves.com

> -----Original Message----- > From: trawler-world-list-admin@lists.samurai.com > On Behalf Of Gary Kleaman > Subject: TWL: fire on board > > > I........................ those 5 lb extinquishers > do not last at all. Three or four squirts and it's all over. > Replacing with much larger units. Gary, I'm glad to see things worked out OK. One of the best fire extinguishers you can have on board is your good old bucket, with a six foot lanyard on it. It self recharges (with a quick dip over the side), and it just can not run out of fluid. It also can put a pretty high volume of supressant on the fire in short order. While you still need the USCG accepted extinguishers on board to keep the coasties happy, I always have the bucket-with-lanyard available as a backup. It sound like in your case, it would have been real useful. Cheers, Kevin www.BoatM9oves.com

RB

Robert Bryett

Fri, Jun 28, 2002 10:07 AM

those 5 lb extinquishers do not last at all. Three or four squirts and

it's all over. Replacing with much larger units.<<<<

In VUP Beebe recommends a "fog wand" for putting out fires on board, based
on his naval service. This is described as a length of metal pipe about two
metres long with a spray nozzle on the end. A hose is connected to the wand
and fed by a salt water pump.

Has anybody tried anything like that?

Regards, Robert Bryett
Sydney, Australia.
mailto:rbryett@mail.com

>>>>those 5 lb extinquishers do not last at all. Three or four squirts and it's all over. Replacing with much larger units.<<<< In VUP Beebe recommends a "fog wand" for putting out fires on board, based on his naval service. This is described as a length of metal pipe about two metres long with a spray nozzle on the end. A hose is connected to the wand and fed by a salt water pump. Has anybody tried anything like that? Regards, Robert Bryett Sydney, Australia. mailto:rbryett@mail.com

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TWL: fire on board