Real candles on Boat

SkiPharmer

SkiPharmer

Active Member
Jul 27, 2014
282
St. Croix River, MN
Boat Info
2001 Formula 41 Performance Cruiser
Engines
Twin 8.2. Liter Mercruisers Direct Drives
A buddy on my dock always has candles on his boat when in the slip. He has them all over the cockpit and in the cabin. I mentioned something to him that its dangerous cause of possible gas fumes and he has a big dog always running around. He kind laughed like I was a worry wart. There is no way I would have open flame like that ANYwhere around my boat. Am I crazy? I figure air fresheners or battery operated candles would do the trick.
 
No one said you needed common sense to own a boat. That is like the guy who barbecue's with charcoal on his swim platform or the guy near my slip with the six year old that climbs all over the boat, hangs his head over the side when leaving the dock and all they while, without a pdf. I just nod my head and keep my mouth shut, hoping I not going to have to fish the kid out of the water
 
He also has one of the nicest boats in our marina.....420 Sundancer. Super nice guy but man that is dangerous!
 
It could be ignorance. To be honest, we used a citronella candle in the cockpit on our 260 to keep the bugs at bay. Only used it once or twice cause the bugs weren't that bad. Now that I think about it...maybe not the smartest thing to do.

Some people can be sensitive to criticism...even if you're trying to help.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
 
SkiPharmer said:
he has a big dog always running around.
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Stupid stuff happens. Had some friends who had their dog on their 270. The galley sink is just across from the cabin door entry from the cockpit. Their dog stood at the door on the steps wagging his tail looking up while waiting for them to come back, and inadvertently wacked the big handle on the faucet for the galley sink. Thanks to the sink filler / cutting board insert, it proceeded to flow over the counter top, onto the floor. We got back from dinner and kept hearing this occasional beep sound. After looking around the pier, we figured out it was the shower sump alarm going off which normally would be alerting him that the shower sump box had overflowed... in this case it was water draining into the compartment surrounding the shower sump from the sink/floor vs overflow from the sump itself. Since then, I never leave the shore water connection turned on while not physically on board or nearby my boat.
 
I rarely see anyone comment unfavorably on a freshly mounted Magma in all sorts of locations up to and including directly over the engine room vents. I personally cringe more when I see those than watching a cintronella candle burn on the cockpit table....
 
And don't get me started about the Honda Gen bungee corded to the swimstep....
 
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An attended citronella candle is one thing, multiple candles on a moving boat (bobbing at the dock) is foolish in my opinion. Way too many variables that could cause a fire to be started. And by the way, if that boat catches fire the adjacent boats are probably a loss also.
 
A couple of years ago, I saw a large cruiser burn and the passengers rescued because some candle caught the curtains on fire........while under way.
 
Dani-Lu said:
If his boat is diesel, I don't see an issue. Is it diesel?
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My thoughts exactly. My parents have been sailboaters for years (with a diesel engine), and they always have lit citronella candles all over the place when they're on the hook or at the dock. We do it occasionally on our boat as well, but we're all diesel. I see no issues if it's a diesel.
 
My boat has a gas stove as well as a gas BBq. So candles bad, stove good?

Explain.
 
I have a single candle lit on the boat occasionally, but ONLY when appropriate and it is always in a place that can't be knocked over easily, on a counter. A moving boat, with dogs, people, guests, kids, etc. is NOT an appropriate time. A docked boat with just the wife and I (and a nice bottle of Stags Leap) might be a better time to light a nice Yankee candle...

Also wouldn't suggest using a candle that is small, or easy to tip over.
 
Z-Worthy said:
My thoughts exactly. My parents have been sailboaters for years (with a diesel engine), and they always have lit citronella candles all over the place when they're on the hook or at the dock. We do it occasionally on our boat as well, but we're all diesel. I see no issues if it's a diesel.
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Gasoline, Diesel, or under sail power doesn't matter.. If an open flame contacts a flammable item such as a curtain, napkin or something else that may have gotten blown or otherwise moved into the path of the flame the results probably won't be good.
 
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