Hull Explosion

[cribber]

Just ran across this in our local news. A 30 something foot Wellcraft named The Bonnie Lee had the top cap blown 5 feet into the air when they were refueling it in Titusville. They had the blowers running and luckily no one was killed. Just goes to show you can never be too careful at the refueling dock. They were doing everything correctly.

http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/35-foot-boat-explodes-titusville-marina/nPLdc/

 

[soggy_feet]

Re: Hull Explosion

Thats why my blower is on minutes before pulling up to the fuel dock, and LEFT ON while I fuel.

I'd hope vapors would never get a chance to build to an explosive level.

Impressive BANG I imagine...

 

[tomdinwv]

Re: Hull Explosion

Wow! Wonder nobody was killed.

 

[V153]

Re: Hull Explosion

Holy Moly! Ya I bet that was a purty big "fricken" bang? Lucky nobody was killed. And that it didn't light the whole fuel dock up.

Hope the old man who was in the cabin is going to be okay. If he wasn't deaf already he probly is now ... The way that deck blew off I'm surprized it didn't burp him outa the boat? Yikes!

From the looks of it I'd almost bet there were fumes in the cabin'n not just in the bilge or engine compartment. Wow! Glad everyone survived.

On the bright side now would be a really good time to inspect the bulkheads, stringers, transom etc for rot? Sorry ...

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Hull Explosion

here's another. Not calling anyone stupid but this is where we post mishaps:

VIRGINIA BEACH

Several people were injured this afternoon in an explosion on a power boat near the Lynnhaven Marine Boatel, said a spokesman for the Virginia Beach fire department.

Four people were on the boat, a 20-foot Wellcraft Excalibur, heading away from the marina when the power cut off, said Battalion Chief Tim Riley. They had just left the fuel pump, and when they tried to restart the engine, there was an explosion.

Three of the people aboard were taken to a local hospital, two with minor injuries and one with serious injuries that are not life-threatening, Riley said.

Five employees of the Lynnhaven Marine Boatel who helped extinguish the fire were treated on the scene. Two were then taken to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation, Riley said.

Firefighters are on the scene.


http://hamptonroads.com/2012/06/several-people-injured-lynnhaven-boat-explosion

Pictures; this one burned down

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Hull Explosion

On the Florida episode, I suspect fuel in the rod holders.

Isn't it odd how you have this explosion but nothing looks like it was burned?

 

[V153]

Re: Hull Explosion

Isn't it odd how you have this explosion but nothing looks like it was burned?

Oh I bet their stuff was "singed" a lil bit. Probly burned everbodys eyebrows'n facial hair off at least. But fuel vapor behaves differently. Had there been some leaking liquid fuel involved the event woulda been catastophic.

 

[nikon]

Re: Hull Explosion

Thats why my blower is on minutes before pulling up to the fuel dock, and LEFT ON while I fuel.

I'd hope vapors would never get a chance to build to an explosive level.

Impressive BANG I imagine...

Left on!? Your liable to pull vapors into your bilge, I've always shut the blowers off before fueling. Then back on afterwards and a pop of the hatch to vent everything while starting.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Hull Explosion

Left on!? Your liable to pull vapors into your bilge, I've always shut the blowers off before fueling. Then back on afterwards and a pop of the hatch to vent everything while starting.

Yep, the blower itself is a potential ignition source if there is a fault in the wiring or blower motor. Far better to not have ANYTHING running, and just look/sniff in the engine compartment after fueling, and THEN turn on the blower.

 

[joed]

Re: Hull Explosion

Yep, the blower itself is a potential ignition source if there is a fault in the wiring or blower motor. Far better to not have ANYTHING running, and just look/sniff in the engine compartment after fueling, and THEN turn on the blower.

I don't have a boat with a blower but it seems to me that one of the key features of a blower motor would be that it is anti-explosion rated.

 

[888]

Re: Hull Explosion

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[Philster]

Re: Hull Explosion

Blowers off when refueling.

When no fumes are present, turn blowers on.

Be patient and wait.

Fire her up. Well, maybe that's a poor choice of words.

 

[nikon]

Re: Hull Explosion

^^ lol

 

[soggy_feet]

Re: Hull Explosion

Blower off while fueling is noted, but im still suspect that letting fumes potentially build AND THEN turning the blower on is better than leaving it on while I fuel.

 

[scrit9mm]

Re: Hull Explosion

that remindes me, I didn't use the blower my last fill up.

oops.

 

[Philster]

Re: Hull Explosion

The blower is to be run in case there are fumes to evacuate.

Drawing in fumes can only make the odds worse.

Most of the time, you run the blower as a precaution.

When you actaully draw fumes in, now when the blowers run -- and how long and efficiently they run -- becomes critical.

 

[korygrandy]

Re: Hull Explosion

If it smells like Gas, it's gas. If you cannot detect gas by smell, don't own a boat. I wasn't at either of these events but I'm just saying, when I smell gas it's a pretty strong smell.

That is just absolutely insane how the top hull of that boat blew straight off. Never seen anything like it.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Hull Explosion

this thread makes me love my outboards even more!

Also I have to wonder if the Florida case could have been propane/bottled gas? is that used anywhere on boats that size? I just can't see gasoline fumes blowing up without a fire afterwards, plus a guy was in the cabin and it looks like that's where it blew.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Hull Explosion

Blower off while fueling is noted, but im still suspect that letting fumes potentially build AND THEN turning the blower on is better than leaving it on while I fuel.

Soggy, all power sources should be off during fueling, including radios etc, everything. It is better to blow your boat up after the fuel filling source has been removed not while it is pumping gas. That way you are only going to blow your boat up in most cases instead of the whole fuel dock.

Blower systems are suppose to be like bilge pumps and macerators etc, ignition protected, but it doesn't mean everything is safe if there is bad wiring or a short of some kind. Also, anyone have wing nuts on there batteries, get rid of them.

I always lift the engine cover after fueling up. Then run the blower for a few minutes before leaving the fuel dock. I worry more about other peoples boats than mine, because alot of people don't follow the simplest of rules at the fuel dock.

Finally saw a guy get ticketed and scolded pretty bad last week end when he pulled into the dock smoking a cigar. Idiots.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Hull Explosion

My understanding was that everything should be off and the batteries tuned off while re-fueling. I might have picked that up in boater's safety traing . . . I cannot quite remember.

Then as long as there are no signs of fumes after re-fueling you turn the battery and the blowers on and then check the blower exhaust for fumes. If all is good then go about you business with the boat.