Russell Clifton
Guru
Just found this story on YouTube. Boat fire. Would not want to be in their shoes.
Yeah **** happens, I've had a few fires offshore on commercial boats, usually started by hydraulic leaks. Firefighting training is a good investment and kind of fun. This is what's left of a trawler I used to work on that burned this spring.View attachment 120401
I have installed residential smoke detectors in my engine room, pilot house and flybridge. These are wireless connected so if the one in the engine room activates, all the others will sound the alarm. About $100 for all 3. They work, aren't CG required, so it is irrelevant whether approved for that application.Are smoke detectors available that are approved for engine rooms? Was the source electrical or other?
I have installed residential smoke detectors in my engine room, pilot house and flybridge. These are wireless connected so if the one in the engine room activates, all the others will sound the alarm. About $100 for all 3. They work, aren't CG required, so it is irrelevant whether approved for that application.
Also, I have an "Element 50" extinguisher available as a backup to the USCG required extinguishers. Actually I would use that first because it doesn't leave corrosive residue that would destroy my electronics. There are videos of the "Element" system on YouTube. They cost about $85 each, but are highly effective cheap insurance.
Almost all fires start out small, and a smoke detector system would alert you while the fire is in very early stage when it could be easily extinguished. Halon and other fixed system typically don't activate until much later. [emoji924][emoji4]
Is a forensic audit applied whenever a fairly new expensive boat goes up in smoke?
For those of you who did not watch the video, the story is not about the boat burning up, it's about what is happening after the fire. The owners live in Australia and the boat was in Florida. They were in Australia when it happened. Now they get a notice from the coast guard that at this time since they are the owners, they are at fault. The salvage guys want upwards of $100,000 to remove it but maybe it will cost more. And the insurance company is dragging their feet and not calling them back in a timely manner. And just to make it a little more interesting another boat was burned up too!
Well, sadly, it is their responsibility. I hope they're well insured through a reliable company although sounds a bit problematic, but often determining cause slows things down. But also hope they have a nice umbrella policy for anything not covered by insurance. Doesn't take a lot to rack up hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage and responsibility.
I'm sorry but the public whining episode does nothing to make me feel worse for them. All the "it's not my fault". Well, yes it is. Your boat, your responsibility. Then the shock at salvage and Coast Guard? Do you think you'll be allowed to just let it sit and cause more damage? In Australia, you'd be charged for reef damage. I don't know why they're just talking to an insurance agent and not the claims department of the insurer, through the number on their policy. That's the first call they should have made. Public crying doesn't move me and it is just a boat but led to destruction of another boat and environmental damage. They resent being told it's their responsibility, well who do they expect to be held responsible if not them?
I watched the entire video. While I do understand the sense of loss of a house or boat, no lives lost, no one hurt and I'd be rejoicing in that aspect. If they're underinsured, that's on them. Whatever they get paid, they'll still be wealthy compared to those they profess to want to help. A huge setback, but watching them cry and listening to them whine about not their fault just doesn't impress me. I think they lost me when it started with "In this week's episode." Too much like reality tv and all the drama of it.
I have installed residential smoke detectors in my engine room, pilot house and flybridge. These are wireless connected so if the one in the engine room activates, all the others will sound the alarm. About $100 for all 3. They work, aren't CG required, so it is irrelevant whether approved for that application.
Also, I have an "Element 50" extinguisher available as a backup to the USCG required extinguishers. Actually I would use that first because it doesn't leave corrosive residue that would destroy my electronics. There are videos of the "Element" system on YouTube. They cost about $85 each, but are highly effective cheap insurance.
Almost all fires start out small, and a smoke detector system would alert you while the fire is in very early stage when it could be easily extinguished. Halon and other fixed system typically don't activate until much later. [emoji924][emoji4]
Appreciate the posts about responsibility and insurance but greatly appreciate hearing how people have tried to decrease risk.
Was taught to never put a looped mooring line on the boats cleats. Then in case of nearby fire you can rapidly remove mooring lines and leave. No need to look for a knife or other implement. Have gone to making up my own unlooped lines. On the rare occasion I need a loop just tie a bowline.
Confounder here is the boat was unattended. Unclear from the vid what if any yacht management was periodically looking at her. Unclear (may have missed it) if she was plugged in. Even on the hard have experienced yards that won’t let you run any electricity to a boat unless someone was on the boat. Interestingly they let your panels and wind generators keep your batteries up. My suspicion in a unattended boat is that this started as an electrical fire. Does anyone have any insight as to the common causes of fire in this setting? Relative percentage of various causes? Know it’s pure conjecture but what do you suspect the cause was?
Am I to understand that unattended boats cannot be plugged into shore power?
Tis an interesting, short read.Fire ranked No. 5 among the causes of loss for GEICO | BoatUS Marine Insurance between 2015 and 2019. The majority of these fires started in a few very specific places aboard, with many of them originating in the engine compartment where fuel and an ignition source have a high likelihood of coming together.