Boat Blows up

Very true to leave the blowers on. ALSO physically check the bilges after fueling and always before startup as well. It sounds like it had a fuel leak somewhere.

A family friend owns a large marina complex. They no longer sell Gas and do not allow Gas engined boats to dock there.

He does not seem to have lost any business and his insurance premiums have gone down. Would you blame him?

I wouldn't be surprised a bit either if after the gas started the fire, propane didn't enter the picture in the explosion. It has become the nemesis of many inland marinas.

The marina we frequented most on the lake would not start to fuel you until you'd run the blower. If they couldn't hear the blower or weren't satisfied it was adequate they would require inboard outboards to open their engine covers.

This is how I was taught too. I've had a marina refuse to let me fuel a boat while I had the cover off of an outboard before as well.

Correction as I obviously was typing while distracted. Would not let you start your boat until you'd run the blower or opened the cover would have been correct. As pointed out, hatches closed for fueling.

Blame the above on my co-passengers, 7 females in bikini's or less.

Here is fueling instructions from Boat US which some marinas had posted.

Secure boat to the dock
Switch off engine(s)
Extinguish all open flames
Do not use electrical switches
No smoking
Ports, hatches, and doors closed
Make certain all passengers are ashore
Determine quantity of fuel required and make sure it is the proper type of fuel
Hold hose nozzle firmly against fill pipe opening
Do not overfill
Wipe up all spillage
Open ports, hatches, and doors to ventilate
Turn blower on for four minutes minimum
Do the sniff test
Start engine(s)
Re-board Passengers
Untie from dock and cast off

As to my last comment about opening covers when they couldn't hear blowers. You'd be amazed how many lake boats have broken bilge pumps and/or blowers.

Thanks for correcting my obvious error.

Houseboats are probably the most common boats in boat fires. And propane tanks for BBQ grills are common as well. Plus many use propane for stoves and refrigerators.

The majority of boat fires are not at the time of fueling but it certainly is a place for being cautious. People fueling sometimes seem in such a hurry when 5 or 6 minutes could save their lives and boat.

Unfortunately, most accidents of the type you mention aren't lack of education but simply lack of judgment. It's not skills, but it's using common sense. I'm all for education, however.

And as to automotive mentality, it's not all that successful in autos. And all those drivers supposedly passed a test.