03-22-2016, 12:26 PM
[quote smokepoles]The safety checklist identifies that a fire extinguisher is NOT required (only recommended) for a 16-26 outboard boat of open construction. Is there a definition of open construction, or up to judgment of those checking if they even know this. My boat is about as open as they come, and I do have an extinguisher, though it may not meet the marine standards you all talk of.[/quote]
I posted this a week or so ago on another thread. From a handbook I used when taking the Coast Guard Captain's exam:
The motorboat is not considered “of open construction” if any one or more of the following conditions exist:
a. Closed compartment under thwarts (motor well) and seats wherein portable fuel tanks may be stored.
b. Double bottoms not sealed to the hull or which are not completely filled with flotation material.
c. Closed living spaces.
d. Closed stowage compartments in which combustible or flammable materials are stored.
e. Permanently installed fuel tanks.
So basically, "open construction" means a single layer floor (or doubled with flotation in between), outboard motor, and external exposed fuel tank(s). FWIW, the only boat fires I've been a part of were electrical. Trolling motor wires above the battery, and the outboard motor itself. Both times, the extinguisher was used to put out flames! (both times there were bananas on the boat too) Carry an extinguisher!
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I posted this a week or so ago on another thread. From a handbook I used when taking the Coast Guard Captain's exam:
The motorboat is not considered “of open construction” if any one or more of the following conditions exist:
a. Closed compartment under thwarts (motor well) and seats wherein portable fuel tanks may be stored.
b. Double bottoms not sealed to the hull or which are not completely filled with flotation material.
c. Closed living spaces.
d. Closed stowage compartments in which combustible or flammable materials are stored.
e. Permanently installed fuel tanks.
So basically, "open construction" means a single layer floor (or doubled with flotation in between), outboard motor, and external exposed fuel tank(s). FWIW, the only boat fires I've been a part of were electrical. Trolling motor wires above the battery, and the outboard motor itself. Both times, the extinguisher was used to put out flames! (both times there were bananas on the boat too) Carry an extinguisher!
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