Boat Fire - Marlow "Too Elusive"

There is also what looked like a small Sunseeker (60 or so) that went up in smoke in Marsh Harbor a couple of days ago

https://www.wmur.com/article/boat-burn-sank-new-castle-new-hampshire-61922/40342870

They were liveaboards

one issue is that so many boats have fire systems that haven’t been inspected in years.

a couple weeks ago i I ordered 3 of the new Element fire extinguishers to supplement all the existing one. Generate fire killing gas for a lot longer than a 5 pounder and clean. Really neat.

Hey now. Somebody spent some time getting some info together and creating that news page.
Good job Trish McGee at Kent County News.

Glad nobody was hurt.
Gob Bless all fire fighters.

I am glad to read that nobody or dogies were hurt in all of these fire events.

I am glad also that we can access some of these articles to remind us; Lets Be Careful Out there.

I ordered 3 more last night for my personal boat. The bigger one generate gas for 100 second.

I'm assuming as these are not CG approved, you've received some endorsement of these somewhere along the line ?

Correct they are not approved so they can not be carried as replacement to regular bottles.

If you remember, I got into a disagreement with a past senior member about Halon sized bottles in the engine room, very long ago.
I suggested when in doubt, go for the larger sized auto bottle. The argument started there.

The idea of an agent to put out fires and NOT suffocate any humans in the area was the point.

I am still of the opinion that I would rather over size Halon or newer agents and trust the auto function to put fires out.
In an engine room fire bad enough to open an auto agent bottle is where I would not rather be anyway.

So, anyway, there is an ole Halon bottle in the coffin (sound box) with my large gen-set that auto stops the gen-set.
My small gen-set is not in a box but has a Halon bottle just inches away from the exhaust manifold and valve cover and auto stops that engine.
Two large bottles, each oversized for the whole engine room, hang over head. They can each shut down the main engines.

No, I'm not going into the engine room while this is going on.

On larger boats (ships) the argument was that humans still have to access the engine room while this is going on.
I don't think so....

I bring all the up and ponder; Is there enough fire suppressant on these fancy boats and yet they still burn till they sink???
Or not anybody brave enough to go below a fight a fire when it occurs??? As my opponent then would suggest.
.

I m no expert but it is my understanding that action has to be taken swiftly and overwhelmingly to have a chance. The more the better.

I have mounted two of these Element 100 next to the ER door on the 116. I have also mounted one just inside the doghouse between the salon and the galley which has an electrical subpanel and the lutron light system. Up in the pilot house, in addition to the standard 10 pound dry chem i ve also added a 10lbs clean agent in case of a fire in the attic which a ton of electronic reside

There are some things that just don’t make sense. For instance on the 116, in addition to the fixed Seafire system (over complicated with time delay CO bottles…) the only handheld fire bottle is installed on the starboard side. So if you need it, you have to walk between the stbd gen and the stbd main, and grab it from its breaker on top of …. one of the Atlas shorepower transformer. If that’s the source of a fire… good luck reaching the bottle

another thing I ve added to the arsenal is a firefighting mask stored at the top of the stair going from the aft deck to the crew area and ER. It s hanging next to the fire ax and the fire hose. What good is a fire ax and fire hose if you can’t see?

it may not win the war but should disaster strike but at least I tried

and I only wear cotton. Not polyester that will melt on your skin in a couple of seconds

Understood well.. You usually can not walk home from a boat fire.

Then when all folks are secured, and confident when you open that hatch or door that fresh O2 will not explode in your face, and a ship pile of equipment in your hands, Then you go in.

Was there time to evacuate and return to fight the flame if possible? <--- My Point..

In any news, report, follow up, or even FB, has anybody stood to a flame?

The usual line, some smoke and all baled. Probably the fastest and safest way but no real firefighting has been reported.

When that suppressant has bought you some time, are you walking the dock, wading in the water or preparing to fight a fire?
I like LOTS of suppressant.

So, back to my point,, any suppressant working on these tubs? How much time did it give all to evacuate?
Was any time left to fight the fire or was ALL on the dock on in the water???

What was expected of the MFG??
What was expected of the owner?
What was expected of any crew?

On real boats, you go to fire school.
Where or what level should this start fire school? Good ole red-neck boating?? 100 GT? 12Pax?? 1 Meg dollar??

May I ask, were these properly maintained boats with somewhat non suicide / homicide minded people on board.

As long as I have skirted some issues, Let me break some more glass.
Not going to talk about batteries, Done that already.

But the rest of stupid people tricks;
Candles on board??
Curling irons??
Buba installed propane/LPG??
Strange galley fires??
DIY home sparky adding new Romex cables??
Auto parts on a marine gas engine??
All real events..

Yes, sometimes a real accident comes up but really, only so many turbo fires can happen in one week..