How many Fire Extinguishers do i need?

[wjcoates]

I have a 42' mono-hull. How many fire extinguishers do I need and who sets the rules?

[thomm225]

Quick google search brought this upper Coast Guard Requirements

https://www.boatus.org/fire-extinguishers/

https://www.boaterexam.com/boating-r...nguishers.aspx

[callistov42]

On my 42' Vagabond we carry one automatic in the engine room and three additional (aft stateroom, forward stateroom and galley).

[Pete7]

1 Litre clean gas auto in engine space.
3 litre AFFF in saloon.
1 Litre AFFF in companion way.
2kg CO2 under chart table.
Fire blanket in galley.
Bucket in cockpit.

[John_Trusty]

Need - none ... until you have a fire, when you'll want many! If you've never used one, you will be SHOCKED how quickly they run out of stuff. I always suggest that an expired fire extinguisher is an opportunity to practice (like old flares). Light a small campfire and gather the family around to put it out -- it's a paradigm shifting experience.

Need to comply with the US law for 42': 2 B-1 or 1 B-II

As BoatUS says: We also suggest you have more than the Coast Guard requires.

[Waterford]

I served for many years as a volunteer firefighter. Although I have no experience in marine fires, I've shot off many fire extinguishers. Here are some thoughts:

1. What are the likely places a fire will start? Engine room, electrical panels, galley, etc.
2. Where might you be when a fire starts? Could you be trapped? Mount a good fire extinguisher between those locations and the likely fire sources.
3. Consider oversized halon extinguishers instead of dry chem. They cost more but don't make a huge corrosive mess. If you even partially discharge a dry-chem extinguisher, you will have hours of difficult cleanup. At that point, you will wish you'd bought halon.

I have a Nordic Tug 37. I have auto halon in the engine compartment, halon in the stateroom, halon at the helm and halon in the galley. I also have a compact fire blanket in the galley.

For what it's worth...

[wolfgal]

not required but perhaps a good idea:

a while back, someone posted that his boat burned.

the fire occurred down below, while underway, and the crew and captain were in the cockpit.

the OP stated that a fire extinguisher in the cockpit would have saved their boat...

[a64pilot]

I have the dry chemical ones too, but don’t plan on really using them.
Get into a closet or small space and discharge one, then see how long you can stay in there to see why, typically you can’t see or breathe and have to evacuate.

[Jammer]

From a regulatory standpoint, you need two, a big one and a little one, according to the federal rules. State rules vary.


Here are the federal rules:


https://www.uscgboating.org/images/420.PDF


As pointed out upthread, you might want more than the minimum from a standpoint of actually being able to deal with a fire on board. You might consider a fire blanket in the galley, for example, and a CO2 extinguisher near the machinery and electrical area, even though dry chemical is cheaper and smaller.


I think that the three best things you can do for fire safety are:
1) Be sure your electrical system is in good order and that all circuits are properly fused or breakered, and that breakers if used are in good condition

2) Fix any oil or fuel leaks as soon as they develop.
3) Be careful about cooking, especially unattended cooking, and be prepared to put out any fires that occur before they become large

Originally Posted by Waterford

3. Consider oversized halon extinguishers instead of dry chem. They cost more but don't make a huge corrosive mess. If you even partially discharge a dry-chem extinguisher, you will have hours of difficult cleanup. At that point, you will wish you'd bought halon.

Availability of actual Halon extinguishers is now poor, and there are reports that customs agents in some countries will confiscate them upon arrival.


CO2 also works but the size and weight of the extinguisher is greater for the same amount of extinguishing capability.

[GordMay]

USCG regulations require at least (3) B-1, or (1) B-II PLUS (1) B-1, or an approved Fixed Systems PLUS (2) B-1 or (1) B-II, for a 40' to 65' boat.
All as per thomm’s link.

[kapnd]

More is better, I like to install them on BOTH sides of every bulkhead, as near the door as practical, including one in the cockpit.

[steve77]

Originally Posted by wolfgal

not required but perhaps a good idea:

a while back, someone posted that his boat burned.

the fire occurred down below, while underway, and the crew and captain were in the cockpit.

the OP stated that a fire extinguisher in the cockpit would have saved their boat...

I have personally seen this happen on a friend's boat. From that day, I have carried a 10 lb dry powder extinguisher in our lazarette so I have access to an extinguisher from the cockpit.

Cheers!

Steve

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by Waterford

3. Consider oversized halon extinguishers instead of dry chem. They cost more but don't make a huge corrosive mess. If you even partially discharge a dry-chem extinguisher, you will have hours of difficult cleanup. At that point, you will wish you'd bought halon.

I have a Nordic Tug 37. I have auto halon in the engine compartment, halon in the stateroom, halon at the helm and halon in the galley. I also have a compact fire blanket in the galley. For what it's worth...

Originally Posted by Jammer

Availability of actual Halon extinguishers is now poor, and there are reports that customs agents in some countries will confiscate them upon arrival.

I think you will find they are illegal worldwide except in a very few case like aircraft and a some very limited military roles. The USA did sign up to the Montreal Protocol banning their use. There are suitable replacements which in the grand scheme of things like an engine space fire is quite affordable.

https://www.gaelforcemarine.co.uk/en...-1kg/m-27.aspx

Pete

[Waterford]

My bad. Halotron is the new version of Halon. This is what I have:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[denverd0n]

Here's the thing. I have never -- I mean NEVER! -- heard of anyone who had to put out a fire that, after it was over, thought that they had too many fire extinguishers. NEVER!


Take the minimum requirement as a very BARE MINIMUM. Have more than the minimum. Always make sure they are kept well charged up. A fire aboard is one of the most disastrous things that can happen on a boat. Don't go cheap, and don't go minimum on your fire extinguishers!