Exploding Powerboats

[Hartley18]

Originally Posted by tdw

Thinking about this a couple of thoughts wandered into my sad dark mind.

The boat had just been purchased.

Presumably it was surveyed before purchase. That is the norm down here particularly for a relatively expensive vessel.

Not sure about that, but it's possible. I read somewhere that he did have the boat inspected by someone and any "defects", if there were any, fixed. What qualifications does a surveyor have to have? Any? Who polices this?? No one I know of..

Originally Posted by tdw

If it was surveyed surely the surveyer would have noted if the bilge blower/gas detector alarm was not operating.

If the surveyer had noted the alarm was not working surely no one would be so stupid to not to have it fixed as a matter of urgency.

Could it have been on a switch? It's an older boat, remember... Maybe the guy forgot to switch it on.

Originally Posted by tdw

Given the value of the vessel , surely it was insured. If so insurance would not have been given if it was not fitted with a gas alarm. Standard procedure with petrol engined boats, I believe.

So presuming it was working or had been repaired why then did the skipper ignore the alarm ?

Do marine gas alarms detect hydrocarbon fumes or just LPG? I have no idea..

I know that the most commonly used industrial hydrocarbon vapour detectors are catalytic types where the vapour reacts with something in the sensor, but these can be "poisioned" over time by exposure to small amounts of vapour and need to be replaced every few years. There are more expensive infra-red types, but the best detector is someone's nose...

Originally Posted by tdw

Is it possible we have a nominee for a Darwin award here ?

Something doesn't add up, that's for sure.

Very possible nominee, I'd say, but think about it this way:

The parents were standing in the cockpit and presumably didn't smell anything. He must have gone on board to start the engine and he didn't smell anything, or get seriously hurt in the blast, so the vapours must have been confined to the engine bay (burst hose?)..

But, you're right. Something doesn't add up.

[hellosailor]

This is not a boating problem!

Every year in the US several gas stations are blown up by customers who just couldn't wait to lightup a cigarette. Which probably is why cigarettes and lighters are sold at all gasoline stations....Hmmmm.....


Maybe if we required gasoline pumps to be plastered with the photos of burn ward victims and casualties, like missing children on milk cartons? Or skip the requirement--just take 25c off the fuel tax at every pump that voluntarily puts all those pictures up. Or allow the boat boys to collect a $20 "fan deposit" before they start filling, which won't be given back until five minutes AFTER the bilge blowers have been put on?

[Hartley18]

Originally Posted by hellosailor

This is not a boating problem!

Every year in the US several gas stations are blown up by customers who just couldn't wait to lightup a cigarette. Which probably is why cigarettes and lighters are sold at all gasoline stations....Hmmmm.....

Maybe if we required gasoline pumps to be plastered with the photos of burn ward victims and casualties, like missing children on milk cartons? Or skip the requirement--just take 25c off the fuel tax at every pump that voluntarily puts all those pictures up. Or allow the boat boys to collect a $20 "fan deposit" before they start filling, which won't be given back until five minutes AFTER the bilge blowers have been put on?

Unfortunately for you guys, the regulations in the US of A regarding the staorage and handling of flammable liquids ranges from barely adequate to dismal - depending upon which state you're in. ...But luckily the rest of the world (including Canada funnily enough) can use a bad example and makes sure dispensing equipment is generally installed correctly.

I'm not sure why people don't lit up cigarettes here whilst refuelling their cars - must be just good education I suppose, because I know that warning signs don't stop people doing whatever they want to.

That's one reason this accident was so "shocking". It really shouldn't have happened and, as yet, there is no explanation why it did.