Local boat fire - they're blaming the bilge pump?

[captainhook]

So there was a boat fire on Saturday not far from me. It seems the fire marshal is blaming the bilge pump igniting the fumes. I've always been taught to turn the blower on before starting, but I leave my bilge pump on all the time. I never considered anything other than the engine igniting the fumes.

http://www.capitalgazette.com/news/...xplodes-in-calvert-county-20150704-story.html

 

[treeskier]

It seems they are also blaming the failure to vent the fumes. Seems simple spark + fuel = fire. Unfortunately we cant know if a stray spark will come along so we need to be diligent in looking for and controlling fumes from the fuel. As I am sure everyone here does, I always run the blower before starting the engines but in addition I pop open the engine compartment for a quick look every time...yep every time. It was a tip given to me by the dealer I purchased the used boat from. He advised a quick inspection before every start. Its quick and easy and you will know if you have fumes or other issues.

Many of the Marylanders on this site probably remember this fire from last summer. I recently met the guys neighbor and he swears he ran the blower...I'm glad I always look inside as well.

http://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2014/08/31/boat-explodes-ocean-pines/14905425/

 

[Glassman]

Most of the bilge pumps I've seen or used carry a warning against using it in the presence of or with combustible fluids such as gas or oil. It IS an electric motor after all. Gas vapor would certainly be a bad thing to have present when the motor kicks on.

And keep on using your blower, I make it a practice to open the engine compartment every morning before starting the engines for the first time each day. Blowers are electric motors - they should be USCG 183.410 Compliant: Ignition protected, but who want to take a chance that it works as promised every single time? Not me.

I like to look in there just to make sure all is well. Water, oil, gas...anything that shouldn't be there is what I look for.

 

[Julian]

I also went to the added step of installing a Fume Detector connected to the blowers. Nothing like a little technical help to prevent an explosion! Seems like one of the most frequent and dangerous issues with a boat....so why they don't come installed by default is nuts. Would think the insurance companies would give a discount for them too! But boating seems to be a fringe transportation method....