3 hurt in sea Ray explosion

This is really unfortunate. Skippers need to be in control of fueling starting with how the boat is tied up, turning electrical things off, closing hatches, supervising the removal and replacement of fuel deck fittings and then turning the blowers on before paying the fuel bill. The sniff test before turning the key completes the sequence. Many fuel docks in our area are staffed by teenagers anxious to start pumping before the boat is even properly secured. I know of at least one holding tank that was fueled. We always slow things down at the fuel dock to make sure things happens as we want them to happen. Heart goes out to those who were injured by this mistake.
 
I'm always amazed at how little attention people pay to what's going on when someone is fueling their boat. I hope the girls with the more serious burns do well.
 
I trailer so fill the boat up then drive 20 miles to the dock so plenty of time to vent fumes, but I still run the blower as soon as it hits the water, then go park walk back and open the rear hatch for a smell, then start it up. Glad to know I am doing something right at least.
 
Where we live and boat I never let a fuel dock employee pump the gas. In fact, most gladly hand you the pump. I don't like dock staff to open any of our ports, including the waste.

The other thing I always double check is Gasoline vs Diesel. Some assume diesel based on the size of our boat.

I've never winterized a day boat, but I've never heard or disconnecting the water fill. Would the owner not have known this had been done?
 
A tragic series of events that ended in a nearly life ending consequence.

I live about a half hour from where this occurred. While I spend my time on the larger, Lake St. Clair, it is common for dock hands to do all the work. I was actually surprised when I pulled up to a dock that did not full service my boat. I don't mind the dock hands doing the work, but I diligently supervise, and tip accordingly. Others obviously do not.
 
To bad, My little boy just watch this video...first thing he said, should have run the blower. I really don't think I would have been firing it up until I made sure no gas fumes in the bilge. The keep the hatch or top up to the boat ramp and took care of the problem. They knew about the problem before they started it up.
 
sad.
as for disconnecting the water tank, the PO of my boat installed a quick disconnect between my pump and tank and used that to drain the tank and lines. he connected his air hose to the quick disconnect and blew out all the lines. my guess is that is why his was disconnected but not sure why he wouldn't have known or maybe forgot?
 
So sad. Mistakes made all around. He must be a guy who pays for it to be winterized and has no idea what they actually do. I can't imagine any 56 year old crawling around on a 21' fiberglass boat to disconnect a line in an obscure compartment and not remembering it. We boat in an area where the gas attendants do not handle the filling and I've been grateful for that every time I read one of these stories.
 
I wonder if running the blower really would have mattered with a bilge full of gas? I guess it would depend on how much actually went down the tube before the attendant realized what was happening? I'm imagining a few gallons down there and the blower really not making much of a difference when things eventually get hot enough.

Thankfully nobody was killed. I hope the kids recover 110%. That must have been very, very scary for them.

Knowing they put it into the wrong tank (even if you thought it went in the tank, not the bilge) would be a day-ender for most of us I imagine? Time to exit the boat, crack open a beer and let the marina replace the tank. Maybe even negotiate a "loaner" boat for the day. That 2015 350 Sundancer looks like a nice one...

What a mess.
 
Stee6043 said:
I wonder if running the blower really would have mattered with a bilge full of gas? I guess it would depend on how much actually went down the tube before the attendant realized what was happening? I'm imagining a few gallons down there and the blower really not making much of a difference when things eventually get hot enough.
Click to expand...

The blower would've taken the fumes hiding in the ER spaces and pushed them out where people could smell them. Of course, they'd have to be even slightly aware, and it appears they weren't.
 
First, happy everyone is relatively ok and hope all recover fully.
Second, I agree with Stee, I don’t think I would be going anywhere with a water tank with fuel in it.

 
magstang1 said:
A tragic series of events that ended in a nearly life ending consequence.

I live about a half hour from where this occurred. While I spend my time on the larger, Lake St. Clair, it is common for dock hands to do all the work. I was actually surprised when I pulled up to a dock that did not full service my boat. I don't mind the dock hands doing the work, but I diligently supervise, and tip accordingly. Others obviously do not.
Click to expand...

This is completely opposite from any place I've fueled my boat in NY and CT. The most a dock hand will do is help with lines and hand me the fuel nozzle. They never participate in the actual fueling process. I've always thought this was for liability reasons.
 
I got my lesson last year. 7 gallons of gas into the holding tank.

Standing rule now that unless we are doing the fueling, I watch that only the gas deck plates get opened and either the Admiral or I stay during the entire process of fueling.

Along with thoughts and prayers for all those physically injured, I hope the kid that put the fuel in the fresh water tank, can figure out how to find some peace with himself.

The kid that put the gas in my holding tank was beside himself and there was no damage or injury.
 
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