You’re miles offshore fishing with your friends when you notice smoke rising from under the hatch in the cockpit deck. Now’s not the time to panic.
It is, however, time to take action. Find the fire extinguisher, and aim the spray through the dedicated port in the hatch. Don’t open the hatch because the fresh air provides fuel to the flames.
“When people are panicked, you put a fire extinguisher in their hand and they freak out,” said Patrick McCartney, a partner in Marine Fire Protection, a company based in Costa Mesa, CA, which specializes in firefighting equipment for boats. “Take the time to understand your equipment. Talk to someone doing the service and understand the equipment you have.”
(credit: USCG)
There are many types of marine fire extinguishers, ranging from basic handheld models to automatic systems that put out the flames in an enclosed area, like an engine compartment. The best-known brands include Seafire, Kidde, and Fireboy.
So, how do you determine what your boat needs? The United States Coast Guard has established minimum requirements for pleasureboats. They’re based on design elements of a boat, such as having an enclosed engine compartment, its length, and sleeping quarters.
Previously, the organization used designations like “B-1” or “B-II.” New regulations are based on fire extinguisher designations used by Underwriters Laboratories.
For boats less than 26 feet long, one 5-B extinguisher is required. More on the letter designation later. On an outboard-powered pleasure vessel shorter than 26 feet without permanently installed gas tanks, an extinguisher isn’t required as long as the boat isn’t carrying passengers for hire. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t at least have one aboard. I have one on my 22-foot closed bow sportboat.
Even if your boat only requires one fire extinguisher, there are still choices. For example, if you boat in the ocean, don’t by a cheap extinguisher with a bunch of plastic parts. And, secure the extinguisher in a rugged bracket that will keep it in place. If you boat primarily on smaller bodies of fresh water that don’t get rough, you’ll probably be OK with the lower-priced unit.
“Because of the way boats move, you need to have something that secures it,” said McCartney. “You also want it to be somewhere where people can see it. Every month you’re supposed to check that the gauge is fully operational.”
On boats from 26 feet to 40 feet, the requirement is two 5-B extinguishers. The number goes up by one for vessels measuring 40 to 65 feet and for yachts longer than 65 feet, one or more 20-B extinguishers meet the regulations. The number depends on the vessel’s gross tonnage.
While these minimums will help a boat pass an inspection, most experts recommend a boat have one fire extinguisher in the cockpit, one in each cabin, where applicable, and one in the galley. According to an excellent article published on the West Marine website, an onboard fire doubles in size every seven seconds, so it’s better to have too many instead of not enough.
Each fire extinguisher has a gauge that indicates its level of readiness. If the needle is in the green, the extinguisher is ready to go. If it needs recharging, the needle will indicate that. The same goes for overcharged units. A fire extinguisher has a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years from the date of manufacture, and most have an expiration date stamped on the canister.
Like you would any piece of equipment, visually inspect your fire extinguisher regularly. If it fails a hydrostatic test, has been dropped or is dented, replace it. CO2 extinguishers should be refurbished or replaced after 10 years.
Fire Extinguisher Classes and ratings
Fire extinguishers have different classes based on the type of fire they’re designed to put out. Class A extinguishers are designed to put out fires fueled by solid combustible materials, including paper, wood, cloth, rubber and plastics. A good mnemonic way to remember this is that Class A fires leave an “ash.”
Class B fires are fueled by flammable liquids including stove alcohol, grease, gasoline, diesel, kerosene, oil, oil-based paint, teak oil, paint thinners, acetone varnishes and flammable gases or fumes. Remember, class B fires “boil.”
Energized electrical equipment ignites Class C fires and can potentially electrocute or shock a person attempting to extinguish them with water-based agents. The priority when fighting a Class C fire is to turn off the electricity. This can change the status of the fire to Class A and/or B. The rule of thumb is that Class C fires have a “charge.”
Marine Fire Protection is working to get an extinguishing agent for Lithium batteries approved, but has not received it from UL yet.
Extinguisher labels include ratings that reflect the type of fire the unit can extinguish. UL uses letters to denote the types of fires an extinguisher can fight. Numbers on the labels refer to the fire-fighting “capacity” relative to other extinguishers. For example, a 1-A, 10-B:C extinguisher will work on Class A, B and C fires. A 40-B:C has four times the extinguishing power as a 10-B:C.
McCartney said that some practicality should be applied when choosing an extinguisher. First, ensure that all crewmembers know where to find the closest one. Next, remember that a heavier extinguisher like a 20-pounder can do damage if it falls or is dropped. A 20-pound extinguisher can easily break foot bones, especially with bare feet that are prevalent on boats.
Also, have the right type for a given situation. On a boat with a busy galley, make sure the extinguisher near the cooking area is a Class B.
When to Replace
If you own a boat that’s model year 2018 or older, you might need to update your fire extinguishers. They can’t be more than 12 years old according to the date stamped on the bottle.
When to go Automatic
According to USCG records, 90% of boat fires start in the engine compartment, and the West Marine article referenced BoatUS insurance data that states that 55 percent of claims are from electrical fires, followed by engine and transmission failures at 24%, DC wiring fires at 12% and fuel leaks at 8%.
The problem with fires that start in an enclosed compartment is that the folks on board can’t see the fire start. By the time they notice, there could be an inferno beneath the hatches.
“If I were to buy a boat — and it had an engine in a confined space — I would install an automatic system,” said McCartney. Even on a smaller runabout with an enclosed engine bay, McCartney admits he would spend the money on an automatic system.
Automatic systems fight fires by activating when a temperature sensor reaches a predetermined setting. For a backup, the systems can be discharged by hand by pulling a manual release cable. Some have dash-mounted displays that show the engine compartment extinguisher’s charged/discharged status. A horn also sounds when the extinguisher is low on pressure or has been released.
On many sterndrive powered runabouts, there is also a fire port in the base of the seat or the engine box. If a fire starts, grab a manual extinguisher and shoot it into the port. Opening the hatch can feed a fire fresh air that can help it re-ignite.
Regardless of the fire, the key is to be prepared and to react quickly and confidently. “You don’t have second chances except for going in the water or getting out the lifeboat,” said McCartney.
Boating Fire Safety Checklist
- Get the extinguisher required for your boat
- Ensure the extinguisher hasn’t expired
- Make sure the gauge indicates the extinguisher is ready
- Know how to remove the safety pin and operate the extinguisher
- Follow this “PASS” acronym:
- Pull the Pin
- Aim the fire extinguisher at the base of the flames
- Squeeze the two handles together
- Sweep the stream across the base of the flames.
