I was reading an article in this months issue of Cruising World magazine, it was covering fire safety and extinguisher types. Within the article was a brief discussion on engine compartment fires and the fact that if you have one one of the worst things you can do is open the engine compartment to investigate. There recommendation was to install a fire extinguisher port that would allow a peek inside the compartment and also allows you to insert the nozzle of an extinguisher into the port to dispense an extinguishing agent with out opening the compartment.
The article suggested that these ports could be purchased at marine a few bucks and installed easily. This sounds like a great upgrade at little cost the my save you our your boat if needed.
Just wondering how many people have such ports installed and if so where they installed them. I would assume that the starboard side of the engine enclosure on the canted portion would be a good location as that is on the side of the engine with the fuel system on it, though I am open to input.
Cepheus dream
C36 MK I # 825
MK I Tech Editor No Mas
Steve, I have seen them on gas inboards but not on diesels. I do agree that they would be beneficial and not difficult to install.
Bill
s/v Lucky
1984 MK I Hull #266
San Antonio, Texas
Steve, I considered it and then dropped it. Why? We really don't have an engine "compartment" per se. It's opened to the prop shaft and the entire underside of the aft cabin and all the way back to the aft lazarette. We also have two doors to it in addition to the companionway steps: one on port for the alternator and one on starboard for the oil dip stick access. Somewhat similar, but not identical to yours. We have an extinguisher in our aft cabin and would use the starboard door, and one in the saloon for use with the port door which is in the head on our C34 boats. I'm not sure a "peek" through a small hole would suffice, I've seen them and if there's heavy smoke inside, all you'll see is the very same DARK you'd been peeking at before the fire!:eek:
Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)
Just thinking, but wouldn't the little door on the MK I where we access the raw water thru hull be useful for this? I would think that if you fire an extiguisher toward the engine from that door, it would probably smother any fire given the limited amount of oxygen in the compartment. It is also a bit away from the engine, so little chance of direct contact with flames.
Deja Vu
1991 MK I # 1106
Marina del Rey, CA
Stu,
We do have different boats, the 36MKI has no doors to the alternator or to the dipstick. We need to remove the steps and the engine cover/box to access the engine.
As for peeking throug the fire extinguisher port, if I saw nothing or smoke I may open the compartment. If I saw the fires of hell glowing within I would not want to open the box and add more oxygen to the fire. Especialy since I would have just removed my easy access out of the cabin and if flame come pouring out of the engine bay a hasty exit out the forward hatch may be the next exit. For five bucks and a few minutes of labor I still think the port is a reasonable idea, so once again I ask if other have completed this mod and where did you locate it.
Cepheus dream
C36 MK I # 825
MK I Tech Editor No Mas
Steve,
I actually have a fire port, still in the bag it came in, waiting for installation.
The fire port is the second best thing to having an automatic fire extinguishing system.
I have considered various places to put it, and I will probably end up putting it on the galley side of the engine box, so that it is not visible from the cabin, and so you have some working room to aim the fire extinguisher into the port.
One reason I have not installed the fire port yet is that it is also a very effective noise port. I will have to cut a hole in both the box and the sound insulation, just like putting the hole in the body of the guitar. I have been noodling on various flap arrangements for the sound insulation, but have not yet felt sure enough of the solution to cut wood yet. maybe in the spring.
Dave
Ballena 1995 Mk II #1445