Boat explosion in Conneaut harbor?

Haven't heard anything about that, but I remember a classic wooden 20' Century that blew up with 7 people aboard in the Clarion River about 30 years ago (always run your bilge fan, and lift the dog box) it was about 1/4 mile from our house and the explosion rattled the pictures on the wall. Luckily nobody was seriously injured, hope that's the case with this one as well.

Thanks bulldog for making some calls. I have been too busy at work with this "cash for clunkers" thing. I hope everybody is OK and also wonder if they are friends. Then again none of my friends take their dogs out on the boat.

Bulldog, you may want to rethink your way of clearing a IO of fumes if your lifting the doghouse, thats not correct. The worst you can do is open the doghouse for fueling or starting, gas fumes are heavier than air and the bilge will be the lowest spot on the boat. Any fumes on the deck from filling will drop to the bilge if the cover is open.

You have to look at the cover as different atmosphere, its sealed w/ a gasket and the blower is sized to remove any unwanted fumes from the cover are and the open bilge as well. If there is an explosion while starting the cover can contain the explosion to some degree.

Another quick note for those w/ IO's do not open the engine cover if you see smoke coming from it, your introduce fresh O2 and the fire will grow and possible burns to you as the person closest to the engine.

ORIGINAL: bulldog1

Haven't heard anything about that, but I remember a classic wooden 20' Century that blew up with 7 people aboard in the Clarion River about 30 years ago (always run your bilge fan, and lift the dog box) it was about 1/4 mile from our house and the explosion rattled the pictures on the wall. Luckily nobody was seriously injured, hope that's the case with this one as well.

My doghouse is nowhere near air tight....I still run my blower before I start each time.

Never said it was airtight , if so the motor wouldn't start.

ORIGINAL: BIGSLICK

My doghouse is nowhere near air tight....I still run my blower before I start each time.

http://my.boat-ed.com/course/content/101039?s=101039026&token=f0453d2d4a2cf3f5101a3ea862d352c2


Before beginning to fuel:
•Tie the boat securely to the fuel dock.
•Ask all passengers to leave the boat and go onto the dock.
•Do not allow anyone in your group or others at the fuel dock to smoke or strike a match.
•Check to see that fuel lines, connections, and fuel vents are in good condition.
•Turn off anything that might cause a spark—engines, fans, or electrical equipment.
•Shut off all fuel valves and extinguish all open flames, such as galley stoves and pilot lights.
•Close all windows, ports, doors, and other openings to prevent fumes from entering the boat.
•Remove portable fuel tanks from the boat and fill them on the dock.
•Make sure that your fire extinguisher is within reach.
While filling the fuel tank:
•Keep the nozzle of the fuel-pump hose in solid contact with the tank opening to prevent producing a static spark.
•Use caution and fill the tank slowly to avoid spilling fuel into the boat's bilge or into the water. Use an oil-absorbent pad to catch drips or spills.
•Never fill a tank to the brim—leave room for fuel to expand.
Evaporating gasoline creates vapors or fumes that are heavier than air. These fumes settle to the bottom of the vessel where they could explode if enclosed areas, such as the bilge, are not ventilated properly to remove fumes.
After fueling:
•Put the fill cap on tightly to prevent vapors from escaping.
•Wipe up any spilled fuel and properly dispose of the used paper towels or rags on shore.
•Open all windows, ports, doors, and other openings.
•If your boat is equipped with a power ventilation system (exhaust blower), turn it on for at least four minutes before starting your engine. This will help eliminate fuel vapors in the bilge. Bilge: Interior of the hull below the floorboards
•Before starting the engine, sniff the bilge and engine compartment for fuel vapors. Continue ventilating until you cannot smell any fuel vapors. Consider installing a gas vapor detection and alarm device.
•Start the engine and then reload your passengers.

This was 3 or 4 years back, but I used to have a 1980 Sportcraft with a Merc 90hp 2 Stroke electric choke. Was out perch fishing in the pack one saturday morning, and finished up with our limits and went to go start the motor, hit the choke and booooooommmm....The motor cover for the engine blew about 200 yards behind me up in the air. My carb must have leaked or a fuel line had a split in it or something and to add to that, I had a bare spot in the electric choke wire that was arcing onto the engine block. The engine burst into flames and I quickly went and got the extinguisher and put it out. Sat there and got calmed down for a minute and started the motor up and went back into port. Boy was that scary...Absolutely nothing wrong with the engine after it was on fire, just had to replace some wires that were charred and replaced the fuel line...Never a problem after that. I did have to order a replacement engine cover from some place down in Florida for 300 bucks though because mine is still somewhere on the bottom of the lake in 50ft of water north of Walnut... 

ORIGINAL: bulldog1

"I've seen people at marina fuel stations realize that they have been pumping fuel into a rod holder and not the fuel fill."

That could get expensive as well as dangerous! 

Not arguing with ya salty, just thinking out loud I guess. I agree with the oxygen/fire deal, how do you use the extinguisher without lifting the lid though?

Anybody else have thoughts on lifting the box before starting?

My ship,(lol) has a removable plug that you can easily remove(kinda like a 6" bung,I dont have a dog box. It is there so incase of fire all you have to do is stick the nozzle of the extinguisher into it and flood the whole engine compartment to hopefully smother the fire.For ships that do not have a bung hole, I don't think it would be too hard to make an access hole for this purpose. I also keep 2 extinguishers on board just in case. Hopefully none of us will have to experience such a tragedy. Now if someone could only do some Walleye Voo-Doo or dance !!!

Lifting the box w/ smoke visible was just that don.t lift it, it has nothing to do w/ lifting it prior to starting for as mentioned turning a battery switch on. Lifting the cover while fueling and starting is not recommended. Once the cover is closed you go through the same process, blower on for set time and turn key.

You don't have visible flames there is no use for FE, move to front of the boat away from the motor, PFD's are worn, help is called for and if needed jump in the water. But the underlying issue is everyone is safe.

ORIGINAL: bulldog1

"I've seen people at marina fuel stations realize that they have been pumping fuel into a rod holder and not the fuel fill."

That could get expensive as well as dangerous! 

Not arguing with ya salty, just thinking out loud I guess. I agree with the oxygen/fire deal, how do you use the extinguisher without lifting the lid though?

Anybody else have thoughts on lifting the box before starting?

Guys,
Just want to let you know that there is a company That makes a halon fire extinguisher system for boats. Has a fire button (or two) mounted on the dash and by the engine compartment. Uses a saftey pin on the button to prevent accidental arming. Just pull the pin and hit the button.