2 minute read
Greg Fonzeno
Fire Safety Aboard Your Vessel, Part 1
BY GREG FONZENO
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Fire on a boat always has been a dreaded and sometimes fatal experience. When refueling, the risk of fire is heightened. Fires at a refueling dock have happened at our local lakes, but there are precautions you can take to minimize the risk. • If your boat has an enclosed cabin, close all windows and doors before refueling. Because gasoline fumes are heavier than air, they can collect in the lower parts of the boat. • Frequently check your fuel lines and connections for leaks and worn spots. • Be sure all electrical devices and the engine are turned off. • When gasoline passes through the pump hose, it generates static electricity. If that sparks with the fumes at the fuel tank fill point, an explosion can occur. To dissipate the static electricity, keep the hose’s metal nozzle in contact with the metal part of the refueling opening to ground the system. • Try not to spill any fuel during the process. This adds to the fire danger and also contaminates the environment.
Legally, you are responsible for your fuel spills. • Once fueling is complete, securely fasten the gas cap and open all windows and doors to ventilate any fumes. • If you have an inboard or inboard/outboard engine, it is time to run the bilge blower. Run the fan for four minutes.
It’s also a good idea to run this blower before any engine start, since even a small leak can produce fumes. • Use your nose! Gasoline has a distinct odor that you can smell even in small amounts. If you smell gas, shut down everything and find the source.
Next month, we’ll discuss the types and number of fire extinguishers you need to have on board your vessel. Over the past several years, there have been a few changes to this carriage requirement, and boaters need to know what those changes are.
To learn more about this subject and other safety topics, consider taking a boating-safety class. For information on classes, visit https://bit.ly/3BHeZIS or email flotilla22pe@gmail.com.
Greg Fonzeno is the public education officer and commander of the local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Unit (Flotilla 22) at Allatoona Lake.
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