Tag: FIRE

Engine Hazards

Engine hazards to watch for

Whether your boat is powered by an outboard, an inboard-outboard or a diesel, there will be engine hazards.

Anything that has moving parts requires oil and gas and gets hot under load will create potential engine hazards. When an engine is housed in an engine room, like most diesel-powered boats, the hazard increases due to confined space.  That risk is with the addition of generators, pumps, electrical equipment, and batteries.  Additionally, the risk for hazards increases dramatically if the room is also used for storage.

Whatever type of engine powers your boat, the first thing on the list is to keep the area around it clean.

Fire

One of the greatest fears onboard and the most obvious danger in the engine room is fire. It’s a life-threatening event, but fire is a result, not a hazard. Fuel, oil, lubricants, air (oxygen), and the hot surfaces associated with the machinery create a highly combustible situation.

First, does the engine room have a fire suppression system? Where are the extinguishers? Are they the correct rating for the type of fire (“B” for liquid, including oil and fuel, and “C” for live electrical equipment)? Is the system or are the canisters charged? Are there enough to put out a fire completely? “There’s a natural assumption by boat owners that their fire systems work,” says Scott McErlane, former yacht engineer and service technician for Sea Coast Fire. “However, I’m amazed at how many boat fire systems don’t actually function.” And that’s true with every system on board. Don’t assume things just work. “If there’s a fire pump or means to put out a fire, prove [to yourself] that it functions.”

A broken hose can lead to additional engine hazards.

When inspecting the engine, generator, and steering system, check for cracks or signs of leakage in and around the fuel and hydraulic hoses. “There’s a potential for fire danger from a high-pressure fuel leak on the engine or from high-pressure oil in your hydraulic system finding a hot point in the engine room and flashing off,” says McErlane. It’s also important to check the raw water cooling hoses. Ruptured seawater lines can cause severe short-circuiting and arching in electric motors (alternators), electrical panels and other exposed electrical equipment, which can cause a fire. Even though hoses looked good at the beginning of the season, their condition from sitting for an extended period of time can change after they’re used.

Batteries

Batteries are also a fire hazard. Because they are consistently under a charge, they can overheat as they age. “When batteries are charging, they [can] emit hydrogen, a highly flammable gas that is potentially explosive,” states the U.S. Coast Guard’s Boat Crew Seamanship Manual. A battery’s lifespan is between two and four years, and McErlane suggests the owner/operator replace it at around three years. Also, be sure a marine-rated battery charger is used. It will turn off or go into “float” mode when the batteries are full. Never use an automobile battery charger.

Cleanliness is key. Oil- or fuel-laden rags and trash are a fuel that, when hot enough, can spontaneously combust. Remove them after an oil or a fuel filter change or after cleaning a spill. The U.S. Coast Guard’s seamanship manual lists the following preventative measures to practice:

  • Keep oil and grease out of bilges.
  • Clean up any spilled fuel or lube oil immediately and properly dispose of it on shore.
  • Stow cleaning materials off the boat.
  • Keep all areas free of waste material.
  • Use proper containers for flammable liquids.
  • Be alert for suspicious odors and fumes, and vent all spaces thoroughly before starting the engine(s).

Flooding

Besides fire, flooding can also put your life at risk. Seawater is pumped in to cool the engine, generator and air-conditioning systems. Where are your thru-hulls are located? Do the valves shut off? Do your bilge pumps work? How about the floats? Did you check?

“Seawater is corrosive and more aggressive on metal fittings,” says McErlane. It’s important to check the condition of the hoses and connections that carry the water to various bits of machinery. “Every ten years, rubber hoses should be replaced,” McErlane adds. And don’t forget your propeller shaft seals. Whether your boat utilizes a stuffing box, face seals or lip seals, they all use raw water for lubrication, and the hoses providing the water flow also need inspection. Remember, seawater and electrical connections don’t mix.

Other Engine Hazards

Now that it’s creeping into late summer and the boat’s been in the water for a few months, it’s important to be aware of some hazards that may not be life-threatening but can cause serious problems.

Marine growth can restrict water flow in the boat’s cooling systems. It’s not so much a problem in the engine’s heat exchanger or generator because the water isn’t sitting in the piping, but it can affect an air-conditioning system that runs constantly or sits below the waterline. If the system cycles on and off more often than usual, it might be time for a cleaning.

Losing an engine or steering creates a potentially dangerous situation. “The other side of good boating is that you’ve got to have a plan B,” says McErlane. “If something fails, what are you going to do?” Can you lock a rudder? If you have two engines, can you run on one? Do you know a single engine’s limitations when running without the other? “With a boat, you don’t have roadside assist,” he adds. Have redundancies, carry a few spare parts and inspect your boat’s systems before you leave the dock. As Benjamin Franklin said while addressing fire safety in 1735, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

By Steve Davis, Southern Boating August 2018
Photos Courtesy of Inker Boats Owner’s Forum and Pimp My Gen2

Saving Sea Turtles

Thirty years dedicated to sea turtle research in The Bahamas has led to sharing that passion with younger generations.

Unique encounters with marine life can turn a fun dive into an unforgettable experience, and there’s little that beats the privilege of gliding alongside a sea turtle—other than running into a shark. If divers revel in these up close encounters, cruisers, too, love to watch turtles swim and see them pop up in some of their favorite anchorages such as in The Bahamas’ Little Harbour, Clarence Town, Elizabeth Harbour, and Little Farmer’s Cay.

Sea turtles are, indeed, beautiful, fascinating creatures in their own right, but they are also keystone species that are major players in the ecosystems. Hawksbill turtles, for example, which are found in Bahamian waters, feed on sponges that grow on coral heads. Sponges compete with new coral growth, which without the hawksbill would damage the health and diversity of the coral reefs we all love to dive and explore. Yet the hawksbill has been exploited for centuries—harvested for its meat and shell—and despite a ban on sea turtle harvest implemented in 2009, the hawksbill and other species continue to be poached. But the future of marine turtles looks brighter.

For nearly 30 years I was the captain of Geronimo, a 70-foot training and oceanic research vessel owned and operated by St. George’s School, a coeducational boarding school in Newport, Rhode Island. I have been working with sea turtles since 1982 when Bob Hueter—now the senior shark scientist at Mote Marine Laboratory—introduced me to the late Archie Carr, who was the world’s leading authority on sea turtles. On a flat calm day just south of the Gulf Stream on our way to Bermuda, Carr and I captured two small loggerheads. That was the beginning of a lifelong fascination with these ocean navigators.

Years later when time came to retire, my companion Barbara and I developed the Family Island Research and Education program (FIRE) to study sea turtles in The Bahamas and educate the next generation of scientists. FIRE has proven an excellent program for a couple of aging retirees. Capturing sea turtles in their Bahamian feeding habitats keeps us active, and working with eager students makes us feel like we are part of the future.

The primary purpose of our current research is to survey turtle populations after the harvest ban came into place—and we are happy to say that they are slowly increasing. Yet long-term institutional commitments are needed for their conservation. For us, that means inspiring the next generation of marine biologists.

As such, we joined forces with the Bahamas Department of Marine Resources and several conservation organizations to develop a plan to eliminate the illegal harvest of sea turtles that continues despite the ban. Our part in this project is to gather anecdotal evidence of illegal harvest by interviewing fishermen, fisheries officers and citizens of all ages. As part of our efforts we visit schools to offer special talks. At the beginning of each school presentation I always ask students, “How many of you have eaten sea turtle?” All too many of them raise their hands.

Among our favorite islands for our research is Cat Island because there are several creeks full of turtles, and we get special assistance from “Uncle” Mark Keasler and his Barracudas. Keasler is a local bonefish and ecotour guide who started the Barracuda program to teach local Cat Island children how to swim. He has also been bonefishing off Cat Island for 25 years, so he knows the creeks far better than we ever will.

One hot morning, Keasler met us in Joe Sound Creek with six of his Barracudas all fired up to help us capture turtles on the ebb. We divided the kids between our boats and went to work. An hour into the ebb we found only two turtles. But as the tide fell the turtles started to appear and soon they were everywhere. Each boat caught 5 turtles, and 3 of the 10 were recaptures.

By the time we had processed and released them the kids were exhausted. They had had the thrill of capturing and handling the animals—even the youngest helped with measuring, tagging and recording data.

We always look forward to our next Cat Island adventure to tag more turtles with the help of yet another group of eager students. In the meantime, Keasler keeps the vision alive with his Barracudas, swimming and learning about the creeks and the importance of turtles in the Bahamian waters. We hope cruisers remember that, too, the next time a turtle pops in by their boat.

— By Stephen Connett, Southern Boating Magazine May 2016

Exit mobile version