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condition, you are likely to get a
citation.
It is not cost-effective to
have a service company come
down to your boat once a year
for only 3 or 4 small hand-held
extinguishers. It would be more
efficient to take them to an
approved service facility to have
them checked. The average cost
for this is $35-$75 per extinguisher,
depending on size and type.
For the small disposable
units this might not be costeffective,
and it might be more
realistic to just replace them on a
regular basis. Most companies
provide a 6-year warranty and a 12-year shelf life. After 12
years, they should be disposed of. I would recommend
replacing after no more than 6 years. You can tell the age of
your unit by looking on the bottom; there you will find a 2-
digit date number indicating its manufacture date. It is a
good idea to look at this when you purchase a new unit, as
you want to make sure you are not getting one that has been
in stock for 2 or 3 years.
Whether you take your units in for professional inspections
or not, you should know how to inspect them yourself
so that you can be sure you have safe working units. How
should you inspect them The first thing you should do is
remove them from their bracket and check the gauge. If the
needle is in the red or even very close to it, you should
replace it. The next thing you should do is visually inspect
A well-placed extinguisher for access from the cockpit,
while in the boat or leaving the cabin.
the canister and nozzle. Check
for rust, corrosion, and dents.
Look into the nozzle to be
sure it is not blocked by anything.
Make sure the safety
pin is intact and that the handle
is not bent or broken.
Check the bracket to make
sure it is in good condition.
Too often, I see units tossed
into a locker or cabinet, unsecured.
Check the label to verify
it is USCG-approved. This
is often in very small print.
For dry chemical units,
turn the fire extinguisher
upside down and tap the
cylinder with a rubber mallet. You should feel or hear the
powder move inside. This is important as the powder tends
to get packed down at the bottom.
For clean agent units, you should weigh the extinguisher
to verify it is within manufacturer specifications. The
minimum and maximum weights will be on the label. Make
sure it falls within that range. Even with these self- inspections,
I stress the importance of having professionals look at
all units at least once a year.
Locating Extinguishers on Your Boat
Lastly, you should think about the number and location of
your fire extinguishers. Just because the USCG has set a
minimum number to be onboard does not mean this is all
you should have. A size I will only fire for about 8 to 12 seconds—not
very long to put out a fire. If you only have two of
these onboard, you will not have much defense from a fire. I
would recommend at least doubling what is required. When
installing fire extinguishers, think about likely places a fire
could start. The galley, the engine compartment, battery compartments
and electrical panels are all places fires can start.
Place fire extinguishers near these areas and near all exits
from the cabin. You want to make sure if there is a fire, you
are not trapped inside so have units placed so that you can
use them to clear your exit. Also, it is a good idea to have
units in all sleeping spaces so that if a fire should break out at
night, you will not be trapped. Lockers containing fire extinguishers
should have a red label on the outside reading “Fire
Extinguisher Inside.” As skipper, it is your duty to make sure
your guests know where all safety equipment is kept as well.
It is all too easy to forget about your firefighting system
until you need it, and then it may be too late. Take the time
now to inspect and upgrade your system. Make it a habit to
check your equipment often and have it serviced annually.
Replace the small disposable units on a regular basis. Have
a fire safety plan, and strategically place your portable units
in locations close to hazard areas. With luck, you will never
need to use any of your firefighting equipment, but it is nice
to know that it will work if you do need to.
In Part II we will look at fixed engine compartment
systems.
Wayne Canning lives on his Irwin 40 Vayu, in Wilmington, NC.
A marine professional for more than 35 years, he now is a full-time
surveyor, runs a Web site for other professional marine surveyors
and a site for those restoring project boats. He also provides services
as project manager for boat restorations. Visit www.projectboat.info,
or www.4ABetterBoat.com, for more information.
42 September 2010 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com