If you ever thought carbon monoxide poisoning could not happen on your boat, read this

[Ronnie]

'This has become my mission': Mom's warning after son dies from carbon monoxide poisoning while boating

"Andy was supposed to grow up and save the world."

www.yahoo.com

The pic of the decedent reminds me of many pics that I took of my own kid as he was wakeboarding. The scenario he was in describes my experience almost every time I boat, that is long no wake zones.

 

[tdonoughue]

A sad reminder.

 

[3 green tornados]

Thank you for posting this. We often do long slow rides especially when Grammie rides with us. Time to google how to stop/slow/minimize the backdraft of the exhaust.

 

[ripler]

I think this family had an older boat that didn't have catalytic converters. I bought a portable carbon monoxide detector that we will use on our new boat when we surf.

 

[HangOutdoors]

I have seen a lot of people, especially children riding on swim platforms in no wake zones on different boats, including Yamaha. I have mentioned it to people more than once usually to a scowl or whatever. Not sure what to say.

 

[Julian]

I have seen a lot of people, especially children riding on swim platforms in no wake zones on different boats, including Yamaha. I have mentioned it to people more than once usually to a scowl or whatever. Not sure what to say.

Yeah....sad as the kids don't know they are being exposed - and the parents should think about it more.....

 

[NewBoater]

Northeast Ohio couple spreading awareness of boating dangers after losing son to carbon monoxide poisoning

Afton Taylor died in 2019 after carbon monoxide poisoning on a routine boat trip: his parents want to warn others

www.news5cleveland.com

 

[ripler]

In PA no one is allowed to be sitting anywhere besides in the boat. The law is there not to protect someone from getting hit with a prop, it's to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Understanding boating laws and boat safety is why everyone who operates a boat should be required to have a boater safety course. I see people sitting on swim decks, sun pads and with more jetboats on my river I'm seeing more people riding in the stern seats.

Here's the carbon monoxide detector we use on our boat. Even though our boat is 4 star rated for emissions I had the alarm go off on us 2 times. Both times is went off we were slowing down to pick up a surfer, I think the wave crashing on the back of the boat brought fumes with it. The alarm only lasted a few seconds and the PPM dropped quickly. We lay it on the back seat only while surfing, it does come with an adhesive mount if you want to keep it from sliding around.

Amazon.com: Car, Vehicle, Aircraft Carbon Monoxide CO Detector | Fast Low-Level 9ppm Alarm | Vehicles, Police, Pilots, Travel, Bus, Trucks | Metal Body, Small 2oz |: Electronics

 

[2kwik4u]

OK.....stupid question......

Does water scrub the CO2 from the exhaust if your exhaust ports exit under water? Do the exhaust bubbles still contain the CO2 as they burst on the surface?

We often "troll" the lake with the little ones taking naps on the rear bench inside the cockpit, and me driving at 3-6mph or so. Essentially just above No Wake Speed. At this speed the exhaust is MOSTLY underwater, and bubbling instead of just freely flowing to air. I've not ever smelled exhaust fumes on the rear bench, but have seen steam/smoke/vapor of some sort come out from under the rear platform after coming off plane.

Is this something to be concerned with?

 

[HangOutdoors]

@2kwik4u

Its not CO2 it is CO - Carbon Monoxide. Carbon Monoxide is orderless and you can inhale it without smelling it. Underwater exhaust can reduce the PPM of CO rising up.

I am just going to install a CO detector in the rear of the cockpit and maybe one on the upper swim platform, for peace of mind. Haven't decide on which one yet though. I have been looking at those with alarm and PPM readout possibly. Just so I know what is going on, I would never have anyone ride on the swim platform. Hate not knowing about stuff.

Things like this should come on all boats stock and be wired in to an alarm and an actual PPM Readout. As well as Fuel Vapor Alarm, etc. At least IMHO.

 

[HangOutdoors]

Actually @ripler Just ordered two of the one you have. Looks good. will secure them with adhesive, etc. In two spots. Thanks!

 

[HangOutdoors]

Here is an article I was reading. Some very interesting Info. Look at the part where a bunch of boats in the same area in Lake Havasu created increase in CO levels. Wonder if you are in an area with a lot of boats and no wind with many boats running/idling how that shakes out.

Drowning & Carbon Monoxide: Are We Missing Something? - White Mountain Forensic

 

[poordealguy]

Another carbon monoxide tragedy.

Carbon monoxide was factor in drowning of University of Cincinnati student-athlete from Strongsville, report says

Allyson Sidloski, 21, a 2018 graduate of Strongsville High School and a soccer player at the University of Cincinnati, drowned on May 22 at a lake in southwest Ohio.

www.cleveland.com

 

[Chatt_Jetsetter]

I think this family had an older boat that didn't have catalytic converters. I bought a portable carbon monoxide detector that we will use on our new boat when we surf.

Yeah, the public could be better informed if there was more information on these stories. Age of the boat is a huge factor. I do think there can be issues with newer boats, and situations you need to be aware of. Wakesurfing is one of those as it puts the stern of the boat deep into a pocket of water, and moves slowly. This can cause buildup of carbon monoxide, along with a tailwind.

Otherwise newer boats operating normally in almost any other condition do not build up CO. There's a video on Youtube where a guy does a bunch of different scenarios and uses a meter to get readings. In the situations I mentioned they were at very dangerous levels. In all other conditions they were not hardly measureable.

Just something to keep in mind.

Edit: I removed the above statement because members who have CO detectors installed still report dangerous levels of CO with newer boats under certain circumstances.

 

[3 green tornados]

Yeah, the public could be better informed if there was more information on these stories. Age of the boat is a huge factor. I do think there can be issues with newer boats, and situations you need to be aware of. Wakesurfing is one of those as it puts the stern of the boat deep into a pocket of water, and moves slowly. This can cause buildup of carbon monoxide, along with a tailwind.

Otherwise newer boats operating normally in almost any other condition do not build up CO. There's a video on Youtube where a guy does a bunch of different scenarios and uses a meter to get readings. In the situations I mentioned they were at very dangerous levels. In all other conditions they were not hardly measureable.

Just something to keep in mind.

Not sure if you were referring to Wake9 or not but here is a link to that YouTube video. He is testing on a 2007 (tige?) v-drive with a GM motor.

He also fits a fresh air exhaust on his boat and does more testing.
We just bought a waterproof CO tester from amazon:
Sensorcon Inspector CO Carbon Monoxide Monitor with Visual and Audible Alerts, Waterproof Sensorcon Inspector CO Carbon Monoxide Monitor with Visual and Audible Alerts, Waterproof: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific
We had a few times in our boat (2015 212x) when going at the top end of “no wake mode” that myself and three other family members all got head aches at nearly the same time last year. Because of the breeze we didn’t think we were being exposed until the head aches and then I would either do a quick run around 30mph for a while to ensure we got fresh air or kill the engines and wait and let the wind being the fresh air to us. Even my commiefornia 4-star emissions boat doesn’t have catalytic converters that I’m aware of.

I will be doing testing and posting to this thread my results.

 

[ripler]

Another carbon monoxide tragedy.

Carbon monoxide was factor in drowning of University of Cincinnati student-athlete from Strongsville, report says

Allyson Sidloski, 21, a 2018 graduate of Strongsville High School and a soccer player at the University of Cincinnati, drowned on May 22 at a lake in southwest Ohio.

www.cleveland.com

This was 100% avoidable if the captain of the boat was a responsible person. In an instance like this the boat captain should be held accountable for the death of this young woman. As the boat captain, if you are allowing someone to hang on to the swim platform while the boat is still running you should be held accountable. Maybe lawsuits are the only way to bring attention to the public.

@3 green tornados I use a carbon monoxide detector on my new MasterCraft while surfing, it's CARB 4 rated and has catalytic converters and my detector will go off every once in a while in the right conditions when we stop to pick up a downed surfer. The alarm is set to go off at 25 PPM and I've seen the detector display 250 PPM, but it quickly dissipated.

 

[Chatt_Jetsetter]

Not sure if you were referring to Wake9 or not but here is a link to that YouTube video. He is testing on a 2007 (tige?) v-drive with a GM motor.

That's the one. He mentions the swim deck area and the levels measured around 5:10

 

[anmut]

Last summer I was sitting on the back "step through" portion of our boat while coaching nieces and nephews on wakeboarding and surfing. I'm talking about the "back of the rear seats" too, with one leg over into the tub, and one on the back deck. After a couple hours of that, we went back to the cabin for lunch and a break. When we got back, I was dizzy, couldn't eat, and felt like absolute hell. Later I came to the conclusion that I must've inhaled too much exhaust gas while sitting back there - this is a real issue for sure!

FYI last night I contacted the Surf Pipe Exhaust company that makes surf pipes for vdrives and asked them if they could make me a custom pipe(s) for my Yamaha. Looking at the blown up diagram of our exhaust system, it doesn't seem like much of an effort to create a pipe with a rubber gasket that vent exhaust further down into the water.

Even last Sunday when I was putting on my wakeboard I noticed that, as the boat rocked in the waves, exhaust "burped" up between the rear transom area.

 

[HangOutdoors]

Otherwise newer boats operating normally in almost any other condition do not build up CO.

This generalization is Incorrect. Additionally with so many boaters now cruising around at no wake speeds with people on their swim decks, which is not a bright thing to do and can be deadly, I anticipate arise in PREVENTABLE tragedies, with the plethora of new boaters whom are not informed and seasoned boaters who disregard it and don't care much.

I have CO alarms now and if I put them on either end of my swim platform and I go no wake or idle I can see the levels rise and set them off without to much effort depending on wind and direction or if it is calm. Can see the levels rise as well at the dock while idling as well. I have tried intentionally to see what it would take. Will be doing further testing of rear cockpit with a tail wind and different speeds to see what happens as the summer progresses.

 

[Chatt_Jetsetter]

This generalization is Incorrect. Additionally with so many boaters now cruising around at no wake speeds with people on their swim decks, which is not a bright thing to do and can be deadly, I anticipate arise in PREVENTABLE tragedies, with the plethora of new boaters whom are not informed and seasoned boaters who disregard it and don't care much.

I have CO alarms now and if I put them on either end of my swim platform and I go no wake or idle I can see the levels rise and set them off without to much effort depending on wind and direction or if it is calm. Can see the levels rise as well at the dock while idling as well. I have tried intentionally to see what it would take. Will be doing further testing of rear cockpit with a tail wind and different speeds to see what happens as the summer progresses.

Thx for the info, I'll correct my post.