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Electrical fire

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5500 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/23/2016 : 10:32:45

A friend and fellow US Power Squadron member keeps his Hunter 306 in Mystic CT. He and his wife spend most summer weekends on the boat at the marina. It's their summer place. One of the smaller marinas, and there are mainly powerboats there. Everyone there is very friendly, like a club.

Cathy and I have visited he and his wife a few times and had a nice sail each time we went out. Seeing the sights of Mystic was a lot of fun too (as Dave B can attest). I'd say Mystic is one of the most saily parts of the Connecticut shoreline ( I realize them's fightin' words in some parts).

I saw him last week at a Power Squadron event and he mentioned that last August he was having some trouble with his wiring in the boat. He's not a DIYer so he asked the marina tech to check out the wiring, check the fuses and look for corrosion on the connections. They did so and checked it out, and gave him a clean bill of health and, of course, a bill.

The very next week they got a call from the marina that smoke was pouring out of the cabin and the local fire dept came and put it out. They disconnected the shore power and battery. My pal said that some of the interior wood and plastic and the wire harness got burnt but much of the damage was due to water damage from putting out the fire.
The marina pulled the boat (at the peak of boating season) and the insurance adjusters, etc looked it over and have authorized full repairs and cleanup. He was hoping that the insurance company would total it so he could get a new boat. Now the marina is working with the insurance company to fix up the boat, but they won't explain much about the process.

I asked him whether he trusted the marina to fix his boat when, as far as I can tell, they set the stage for the calamity in the first place.
Just sayin' - especially in Mystic, there are probably 10 boat yards with expert repair services within 5 nm. He's hoping to get his boat back by April ...

What would you do? (I'm keeping my advice to myself going forward, but I invited them to go out sailing with us next May).

Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain � Milford, CT

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9089 Posts

Response Posted - 01/23/2016 : 11:34:08

Which Marina? From your description, I'm thinking maybe Gwenmor, which is sort of "behind" Brewers, by the RR. Their reputation for repair services is quite good, but after a significant fire in a plastic boat, I'd probably want my insurance to declare a total, too. Probably the other best thought-of repair services are at Dodson's Marina at the head of Stonington Harbor, in Stonington Borough.

Dave Bristle
PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage before going over to the Dark Side (2007-2025); now departed from Mystic, CT, and boatless for the first time since 1970.

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5500 Posts

Response Posted - 01/23/2016 : 18:16:23

Dave,
I don't recall the name, but it's out there in a back bay... I know it's not up in Stonington since Mason Island is to river left going out to Fishers Island Sound. Sometimes schtufff happens and transparency is the best policy.

Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain � Milford, CT

bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1813 Posts

Response Posted - 01/23/2016 : 19:09:34

Bruce:

So many intangibles here: I hope he forwarded his bill and "clean bill of health" to his insurance adjuster. Equally, I hope that the marina is bending over backwards to HELP him. As I assume neither, I would insist that a different marina evaluate and do the work. I would also insist with my insurance adjuster that the entire wiring be re-done, all damage completely replaced, and if they did not do that I would most likely sell or donate the boat. Just one person's opinion, but when out on the water I want to trust all my core systems, inclding electrical.

Just say'n.

Peter Bigelow
PO - C-25 TR/FK #2092 Limerick
Rowayton, Ct
Port Captain: Rowayton/Norwalk/Darien CT

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9089 Posts

Response Posted - 01/24/2016 : 10:13:07

quote:
Originally posted by bigelowp

...but when out on the water I want to trust all my core systems, including electrical.

...especially electrical. I've been out there (on someone else's boat), a few hours from port, with smoke from burning insulation pouring out of the galley.

Dave Bristle
PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage before going over to the Dark Side (2007-2025); now departed from Mystic, CT, and boatless for the first time since 1970.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 01/24/2016 10:14:03

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5500 Posts

Response Posted - 01/24/2016 : 16:25:16

Peter - I could not agree more... I plan to chat with my buddy next week and ask him how things are going. I would advise him to get a 2nd opinion or an inspection of the work.

On our boats the electrical systems are pretty simple. Both DC and AC. But since they lived on their Hunter 306 (at least weekends and often more frequently) from late April to mid-November, they have built-in a PC at the nav station, microwave oven, toaster oven, electric coffee maker, AC, TV & stereo, heater system, lights everywhere, an inboard engine compartment, etc. And a 31 footer has a lot more area to cover (longer cables require higher wire gauge).

It would be worth the extra money to hire a marine electrician to inspect ALL the electrical work and a surveyor to check everything else. Otherwise, as you suggest, it might be best to donate or sell the boat.

The good news is that their usual sailing trip is from Mystic Harbor to Fishers Island Sound and back - probably 5 nm each way. When Cathy and I sailed with them, we took them way far afield by heading up to Napatree Point!
For reference, pls see the Fishers Island Sound Chart 13214

Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain � Milford, CT

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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.