Bummer of a Sea Trial

Last summer going north we stopped for fuel at a marina we use every year. They had a new building for the fuel office. The owner was there and told us a gas boat feuded and they did not turn on their blower and the boat blew up.
So warning to all make sure you run your blowers before starting your engine.
 
Reason for purchase agreement cancellation: bilge blower not adequate, fire suppression system not functioning
 
Wow! I guess the sale didn't go through.
 
Shame on the loss of the vessel, glad no one was hurt. Yes off while fueling, then run them prior to starting, but smell too before you start. If you smell fumes, stop, and investigate. I imagine it is too easy to ignore it when it's a busy holiday weekend and everyone is waiting for your spot at the pier.

I remember a TV series, I think it was Fire Boat Miami??? It's on Amazon Video. There was an episode where a boat pumped 60 gals of fuel into their bilge and discovered it prior to starting and sat at the dock and waited for help, they actually removed the fuel from the boat with no incident...
 
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Bilge blower on vs off was hotly debated here a year or two back. If I recall correctly evidence was provided showing some manufacturers tell you to turn EVERYTHING off during fueling while some others suggest leaving bilge blowers running.
 
Stee6043 said:
Bilge blower on vs off was hotly debated here a year or two back. If I recall correctly evidence was provided showing some manufacturers tell you to turn EVERYTHING off during fueling while some others suggest leaving bilge blowers running.
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What was not debated was turning them on after fueling and before starting. Every time I go to the fuel dock I notice at least one person that just starts right up after fueling.
 
On a boat this size, it usually takes 5 minutes or so to settle up the transaction with the marina staff. We always turn the blowers on once the fuel is added, and then go pay the bill. By the time we get back on the boat, it is easy to open the day hatch and sniff prior to turning the keys and powering up the electronics. People are in such a hurry. If you think about it, safe practices don't need to slow you down.
 
Alegria said:
Shame on the loss of the vessel, glad no one was hurt. Yes off while fueling, then run them prior to starting, but smell too before you start. If you smell fumes, stop, and investigate. I imagine it is too easy to ignore it when it's a busy holiday weekend and everyone is waiting for your spot at the pier.

I remember a TV series, I think it was Fire Boat Miami??? It's on Amazon Video. There was an episode where a boat pumped 60 gals of fuel into their bilge and discovered it prior to starting and sat at the dock and waited for help, they actually removed the fuel from the boat with no incident...
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One of my Power Squadron friends was at a gas dock years ago on the Chesapeake. There was a really strong gasoline smell and a huge fuel sheen on the water, then he noticed the boat in front of his had it's bilge pump coming on intermittently. Turns out a passenger on that boat had the fuel nozzle plugged into a rod holder and was pumping gasoline directly into the bilge, which was emptied by the bilge pump every so often. Fortunately there was no kaboom.

What is the rationale for not running a bilge blower while fueling? My previous boat was a Wellcraft and I recall the operating manual recommendation to run the blower while fueling and for a couple minutes after.
 
Joel_MD said:
What is the rationale for not running a bilge blower while fueling? My previous boat was a Wellcraft and I recall the operating manual recommendation to run the blower while fueling and for a couple minutes after.
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I was always told to turn everything off when fueling because the bilge blower could potentially suck in fumes in the surround area.

My routine is turn everything off while fueling, including the blower. As soon as I'm done fueling, I turn the blower back on for a couple of minutes before I crank it up.
 
tdgard said:
What was not debated was turning them on after fueling and before starting. Every time I go to the fuel dock I notice at least one person that just starts right up after fueling.
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Allegedly, NFPA says don't run the blower until you're done fueling and have opened hatches confirming no fumes are present. The relative danger of gas fumes in your engine room are indpendamt of whether or not you are actively dispensing fuel. Not running the blower during fueling is intended to avoid drawing fumes into the bilge that otherwise would not have found their way in.

I think the broadest interpretation of most guidelines is that the blowers are not intended to manage flammable fumes. If you smell gas fumes after inspecting your bilge you are not advised to turn on an electric bilge blower.
 
Stee6043 said:
Allegedly, NFPA says don't run the blower until you're done fueling and have opened hatches confirming no fumes are present. The relative danger of gas fumes in your engine room are indpendamt of whether or not you are actively dispensing fuel. Not running the blower during fueling is intended to avoid drawing fumes into the bilge that otherwise would not have found their way in.

I think the broadest interpretation of most guidelines is that the blowers are not intended to manage flammable fumes. If you smell gas fumes after inspecting your bilge you are not advised to turn on an electric bilge blower.
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But this does beg the question "what does it mean to be ignition protected"?
 
Stee6043 said:
But this does beg the question "what does it mean to be ignition protected"?
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Exactly. I don't go so far as to open everything and sniff around before turning on the blower. Like sbw1, I turn them on before I go pay and round up the family, who are normally eating an ice cream on the dock while I sweat in the sun pumping gas.
 
This is one of the reasons that I love my marina. The fuel truck comes down & delivers fuel when I'm not there. It may be a week or more until I come down. Then, a quick pop of the hatch to insure all is well, blowers on, engines on & away we go!
That's a shame what happened to that boat. I wonder if those intense flames damaged the bridge that they were heating up?
Sent from my SM-J320V using Tapatalk
 
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i personally open the engine hatch and take a quick sniff and visual if something odd fluid is swimming in the bilge and then start the engine right away without running the blower for several minutes.
 
How to fuel a vessel
1 Tie up to dock
2 Shut everything off, EVERYTHING
3 open engine hatch for inspection and sniff test
4 close hatches and refuel
5 OPEN ENGINE HATCH AND TANK HATCH (if equipped) AND LOOK AND SNIFF
6 Start bilge blower (should be blowing out from the vent,not in) SNIFF AGAIN.Run for 2 minutes
7 restart engines
 
Bt Doctur said:
How to fuel a vessel
1 Tie up to dock
2 Shut everything off, EVERYTHING
3 open engine hatch for inspection and sniff test
4 close hatches and refuel
5 OPEN ENGINE HATCH AND TANK HATCH (if equipped) AND LOOK AND SNIFF
6 Start bilge blower (should be blowing out from the vent,not in) SNIFF AGAIN.Run for 2 minutes
7 restart engines
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Can't resist being a wise guy and sharing my version of fueling a diesel-powered vessel:
1. Put my cigar down, turn on bilge blower
2. Unscrew the fuel fill caps, insert nozzle and start pumping.
3. Switch hands approximately every 50 gallons when muscle fatigue sets in from holding down the lever on the nozzle
4. Hold absorbent pad in front of the vents to catch the excess that spits out
5. Rub hands together to spread the moisturizing benefits of the oily, red liquid
6. Secure caps on fuel fills
7. Relight cigar
8. Start engines and depart!
 
That accident will be the first of many . They dont understand that only 3 Oz of liquid turned to vapor is about 8 sticks of Dynamite. There are fuel pump and carb leaks, vent line leaks, fill line leaks, and of course the gas tank leak.
You can pour 100 gal of gas in the bilge and it wont explode. If only explodes when mixed with air from the vents and reaches the explosive LEL. By then your airborne from the explosion, dead, burned to death or drowned.
 
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