ex TL systems 63 Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 Hi just heard on the news of a crew of 3 escaping a burning boat around midnight last night 300 miles south of Niue.They managed to activate an epirb and get into a liferaft and were picked up by a freighter. Highlights the need for easily accessible safety gear but also I doubt if they would have had smoke alarms on board and wonder if the outcome would have been the same if no one had been awake at the time or if alarms may have given them a few extra minutes early warning if they had been fitted. There is likely more chance of a fire starting on your boat than in your house? Something worth considering when you think of safety on board. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
erice 732 Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 wonder if the engine was running? or an elec. fire due to poor eng. room wiring? only 4 hrs in life raft and the freighter that uplifted them going to where they were how lucky http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11470378 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chewing Gum 17 Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 Yes fire at sea much bigger risk than anything else. We have a smoke alarm on board up forward (away from galley) but after this might try fitting another in the engine space - hopefully it will not false alarm. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,239 Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 Article on stuff http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/south-pacific/69688630/Kiwi-survivor-talks-after-Pacific-Ocean-rescue-from-burning-boat Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ex TL systems 63 Posted June 25, 2015 Author Share Posted June 25, 2015 Worth a try in the engine space as alarms are very cheap to buy, if the the motor is not fuming into the boat it should work, we don,t normally install in garages but only because of false alarms from exhaust gases. I would definately recommend having more than 1 alarm even if they are in the same area .As with anything electronic there is always a percentage chance of one not operating correctly. If you had one velcroed on the cieling in the main saloon area it can easily be moved while cooking. Smoke rises so an alarm in a forecabin with a lower height cieling may take a while to operate if the fire is at the back of the boat. Once you are asleep smoke will not wake you, the toxins and lack of oxygen will shut you down and then kill you.You are more likely to die from smoke inhalation than direct flame burning. There are 10 year life alarms available now that do not need battery changes, just replace the entire alarm after 10 years. These are around $40, but you can still get the older alarms, that need annual battery changes for less than $10. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
erice 732 Posted June 27, 2015 Share Posted June 27, 2015 final bit of the story http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11472189 if anyone knows them can you ask if the engine was running when it burst into flames? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chewing Gum 17 Posted June 27, 2015 Share Posted June 27, 2015 Radio NZ http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/277200/series-of-miracles-save-nz-sailors Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,239 Posted June 28, 2015 Share Posted June 28, 2015 Proper Pyro detector for engine room. http://www.neptunes-gear.com/index.php/hs-003-apollo-fire-heat-detector.html Give me a yell if you want a proper fire alarm system, quality, made in NZ systems. Matt Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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