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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Fire Extinguisher relocation

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/01/2009 : 14:53:37

On Iris, the Fire Extinguisher is mounted on the bulkhead, just starboard of the passage to the head. I need to put an oil lamp that I just got as a gift there, and mount a weather station nearby. This means relocation of the FE to an entirely new spot.

I need suggestions for baby-proof installations that aren't in a spot that would involve reaching across a galley fire. Your suggestions are appreciated!

"Iris"
1984 FK/SR #4040
http://frosthaus.blogspot.com/

Take a minute to register your boat with the association!!
http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/owner_questionnaire.htm

Edited by - on

Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3321 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2009 : 15:26:37

Ours is on the stbd side above the window at the aft end of the couch.

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2009 : 15:45:53

On our 250 we've got one on the aft bulkhead which is the standard location for them. After a scare with our stove, I mounted a second, larger one on the foreward head bulkhead underneath the book shelf. This is the one that our friend's five year old daughter found and broke off the safety pin to. We've since replaced the plastic pin with a SS hitch pin which fits perfectly. At least next time she plays with it, she won't be able to break the pin. Hopefully she doesn't pull the trigger.

With this one directly behind the galley, you have quick access to an extinguisher w/o having to reach around or over anything.

I through-bolted a Davis Quickfist to hold the bottom of the extinguisher, and just used the provided holder to hold the top. A tug on the Quickfist, lift out & up, and it's free.

I realize that you have a 25, but maybe this'll give you some ideas.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2009 : 16:10:03

I was thinking of building a sort of box to hide the back of the gauges on the STBD side, and fitting the extinguisher into it somehow. Also considered the underside of the ladder until SWMBO pointed out how easy that would be for the baby to reach.

Thanks for the ideas, keep 'em coming...

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Peregrine
Admiral

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830 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2009 : 16:32:36

The "baby proof" part of your inquiry makes for a challenge.
But here is a basic idea.
The extinguisher should be near the companionway in case you don't have time to use it, or the use of it is not effective, you need to be near the exit. You don't want to have to move further into the cabin in the event of a fire to get the extinguisher.
Bottom line getting out is the key to surviving a fire.
This is a basic rule of thumb for your house as well, the extinguishers need to be by the doors of the kitchen and the front and rear exits also near the stairs if you have more than one story.(you do have at least three in the house don't you?).
I mounted mine on the stairs on the galley side, unfortunately well with in a babies grasp so you might look for a higher position.
I also keep a smaller one in the small lazarette in the cockpit.

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2009 : 16:48:04

I'm thinking more and more that the extinguisher will be mounted near the back of the instruments. I was worried that it would come unmounted at the angle of that bulkhead, but I guess that can be overcome.

Thanks for the extra info Peregrine. Since we heatour house with wood, we are actually fairly fanatical about having extinguishers around the house. One in the kitchen, one by the hearth upstairs, one by the hearth in the basement, one in the workshop, one in the garage, and a spare in the emergency kit in the front hall. (I don't know if folks still have those, but its basically a ditch kit for if you ever had to leave the house in a hurry. It has some food, sleeping bags a change of clothes for each person, etc. Ours morphed into a general emergency kit for powerfailures, etc.)

I think we've got it covered at home.

On board we had this one and one in the same cockpit lazarette as you.

Edited by - Prospector on 04/01/2009 17:38:50

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2009 : 17:34:09

I like the idea of having the extinguisher at the compaionway exit. Not only does it give you a better chance to get out of the cabin but it handy for fires in the cockpit. Don't forget that another potential fire spot is the outboard and fuel tank.

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pastmember
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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2009 : 19:45:49

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Nautiduck
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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2009 : 21:36:42

Frank, is there a benefit to having the extinguisher upside down?

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glen
Captain

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359 Posts

Response Posted - 04/02/2009 : 09:35:17

We have 2 fire extinguishers on our boat. I will be very general on the description of there locations, because I can’t say what is an open baby proof spot on your boat (we have very little free space on ours). What I do feel is important, is to comment that if you are in the V berth you need one nearby so that you are not trapped forward. We have on mounted in the head area. You also may need one in a location that is handy for both the galley and the cockpit. Our second extinguisher is mounted just inside the entry

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pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 04/02/2009 : 10:20:51

I don't recall my thoughts at the time.

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Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/02/2009 : 10:31:12

Maybe Frank figured that when grabbing it, and thereby turning it right-side-up, he would stir up the powder inside. I'd be inclined (ignore pun) to store it as the designers anticipated.

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JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 04/02/2009 : 10:37:35

My fire extinguisher is bungeed to the side of the companionway stairs.

My 2¢:
To baby-proof/child-proof yours, you might try covering it with a cloth bag that pulls off easily with velcro attachments - out of sight, out of mind for the kid. But then you'd want to label the cover "FIRE EXTINGUISHER / EXTINCTEUR DE FEU".

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 04/02/2009 : 12:44:11

We had one in the head and one on originally mounted under one of the stairs subsequently moved to the side of the stairs. Later on we thought about mounting it in a box like below in a settee. The box we were considering at the time did not have a door so it was visible. With the door you could probably add a placard from any number of companies to identify it for guests who wouldn't know where to look.

We sold before this hit the project list.

Edited by - Champipple on 04/03/2009 06:45:15

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 04/02/2009 : 14:42:04

When we bought Nauti Duck it had an extinguisher mounted to a cockpit stanchion. I removed it but, in retrospect, that probably is a good place to have one.

Dave, I had the same thought about Frank's upside down extinguisher - that using it would stir up the contents. Sounds like it was maybe not such deep thinking.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 04/02/2009 : 14:47:55

I actually considered Frank's location as well. Not much will fit that spot, except I was thinking of mounting it to the ceiling, goin gfore and aft. Then I realized how close to the stove that location is, and would I want to reach back there, undo the clasps, and get the extinguisher while dodging flames and inhaling smoke.

I think I like the opposite side of the boat in a similar location.

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Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/02/2009 : 17:27:53

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Prospector
 ...Then I realized how close to the stove that location is, and would I want to reach back there, undo the clasps, and get the extinguisher while dodging flames and inhaling smoke...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Better yet, get rid of the "curtain burner."

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 04/02/2009 : 17:40:31

Already did that. Now I'm considering replacement options that don't mean coocking in the cockpit, but this thread isn't the place for that.

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Peregrine
Admiral

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830 Posts

Response Posted - 04/02/2009 : 21:38:06

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by glen
 We have 2 fire extinguishers on our boat. I will be very general on the description of there locations, because I can’t say what is an open baby proof spot on your boat (we have very little free space on ours). What I do feel is important, is to comment that if you are in the V berth you need one nearby so that you are not trapped forward. We have on mounted in the head area. You also may need one in a location that is handy for both the galley and the cockpit. Our second extinguisher is mounted just inside the entry
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Good point Glen.
I sleep in the quarter berth and hadn't considered fighting to get out if trapped forward.
Seems more than one is the best choice as I would still have one near the exit.

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 04/03/2009 : 10:23:20

Why wouldn't you just exit through the Q-berth hatch to the foredeck? I thought that was why it was there.

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 04/03/2009 : 10:30:48

An extinguisher mounted in the cockpit sounds like a pretty good idea, after all, it's where the majority of the instantly combustible material is on the boat. Seems like you'd want to be able to easily mount & dismount it so it's not out in the weather all the time. Maybe mount it underneath one of the catbird seats to semi-protect it. Also, I hadn't considered one in the v-berth. We've never slept up there, and to get out of the boat (through the main hatch) from that area, you have to go right by our big extinguisher on the port side.

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glen
Captain

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359 Posts

Response Posted - 04/03/2009 : 14:36:39

Chris your right about exiting through the hatch; however I still want an extinguisher nearby. Remember “Don’t Give Up The Ship”

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 04/03/2009 : 15:50:51

Maybe this is a KISS solution...

Move it to the forward side of the bulkhead. Basically in its same location, but in the hanging locker. I would like it closer to the galley though.

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