Boat Explodes

[HangOutdoors]

Looks like engine bay.

1.5M views · 10K reactions | NEW: Dramatic video shows the moment a boat exploded on Lake Lanier over the weekend. Two people were injured. FULL STORY >> 2wsb.tv/2TJNWZw | WSB-TV

NEW: Dramatic video shows the moment a boat exploded on Lake Lanier over the weekend. Two people were injured. FULL STORY >> 2wsb.tv/2TJNWZw.

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[biffdotorg]

Holy crap. I am so careful about opening my engine bay before each outing and running my fan. I got paranoid after my gas fume incident this spring. I even pop the seats on the waverunners before each outing.

 

[fatboyroy]

Looks like they could have saved the boat if they have fir extinguisher ready.

 

[tabbibus]

Oh shoot. I hadn't seen this. This is my home lake. There was another one blow up in the gas dock a month or two ago. Yeesh.

 

[anmut]

1) GET THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER!
2) Don't dive in the water without a PFD
3) Set your flaming boat on a course towards land, not other boats!

I will say that, having experienced an overweight pontoon subbing under the water and nearly flipping, most people go into panic mode and don't have the capacity to actually think when there's an emergency.

To all the Yamaha owners here - are we all aware of the included fire extinguisher port built into your engine hatch?!

 

[ripler]

This is typical of the idiots today's society, their first thought was to grab the phone to video tape it instead of thinking someone may be hurt and need help.

 

[Julian]

1) GET THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER!
2) Don't dive in the water without a PFD
3) Set your flaming boat on a course towards land, not other boats!

I will say that, having experienced an overweight pontoon subbing under the water and nearly flipping, most people go into panic mode and don't have the capacity to actually think when there's an emergency.

To all the Yamaha owners here - are we all aware of the included fire extinguisher port built into your engine hatch?!

Pretty sure in that sort of explosion, the hatch is one of the things you see launched into the air 20 feet!

This sort of accident is why one of the first mods I do to my boat is install a $150 fume detector. It went off again this last weekend while I was gassing up - there was a gentle breeze blowing fumes into the boat....so I turned blowers on once done and alarm cleared. (also linked in my Signature)

Just one gallon of gasoline is equivalent to 14 sticks of dynamite in explosive force. (googled this quickly-I've seen other similar numbers).

 

[HangOutdoors]

This is typical of the idiots today's society, their first thought was to grab the phone to video tape it instead of thinking someone may be hurt and need help.

Couldn't agree with you more. Sad.

 

[HangOutdoors]

Pretty sure in that sort of explosion, the hatch is one of the things you see launched into the air 20 feet!

This sort of accident is why one of the first mods I do to my boat is install a $150 fume detector. It went off again this last weekend while I was gassing up - there was a gentle breeze blowing fumes into the boat....so I turned blowers on once done and alarm cleared. (also linked in my Signature)

Just one gallon of gasoline is equivalent to 14 sticks of dynamite in explosive force. (googled this quickly-I've seen other similar numbers).

After reading your previous posts about the fume detector, I purchased and installed one. It has went off once at the ramp before launch. I turned on the blower and then after a couple minutes opened up the hatch. Best piece of mind and money well spent!

 

[sunbyrned]

What do you think actually happened here? If it was caused by fumes, wouldn’t the explosion have happened when he cranked the boat or is that just an assumption on my part?

 

[fatboyroy]

What do you think actually happened here? If it was caused by fumes, wouldn’t the explosion have happened when he cranked the boat or is that just an assumption on my part?

I'm assuming fuel leaked while underway

 

[HangOutdoors]

Does fuel explode? Or does it actually have to be the fuel vapor build up?

 

[fatboyroy]

Does fuel explode? Or does it actually have to be the fuel vapor build up?

It's the vapor that does.

EDIT:
Vapor, oxygen and spark = bad news bear. As soon as gas spilled, vapor starts releasing. It's so dangerous, empty fuel tank that brought down TWA Flight 800 in NY made FAA change airline rules to fill empty tank with non-flammable gas so that remaining fumes can no longer ignite (lack of oxygen) Microsoft Word - ScaleModelReport.doc (faa.gov)

 

[Adrian @ JB Solutions]

After reading your previous posts about the fume detector, I purchased and installed one. It has went off once at the ramp before launch. I turned on the blower and then after a couple minutes opened up the hatch. Best piece of mind and money well spent!

How many sensors and detectors does your boat have now? You might have the safest boat on here lol

 

[zipper]

Installing one of these on the sailboat. Wife bought it a while back, it's time.

Surface Mount Fume, Fire and Flood Detector MGD-10XL | MTI Industries Inc

www.mtiindustries.com

 

[AZMark]

1) GET THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER!
2) Don't dive in the water without a PFD
3) Set your flaming boat on a course towards land, not other boats!

I will say that, having experienced an overweight pontoon subbing under the water and nearly flipping, most people go into panic mode and don't have the capacity to actually think when there's an emergency.

To all the Yamaha owners here - are we all aware of the included fire extinguisher port built into your engine hatch?!

You also probably need an expensive CO2 or Halotron extinguisher for that port to work to its full potential.
Dealer supplied piece of crap duster isn’t going to do much if the fire isn’t at the front of the engines.

 

[Julian]

You also probably need an expensive CO2 or Halotron extinguisher for that port to work to its full potential.
Dealer supplied piece of crap duster isn’t going to do much if the fire isn’t at the front of the engines.

Plus, most of the fire extinguishers you buy for boats have to be upright to deliver their full capacity, and our engine ports are so low you'll never get it upright.

 

[sunbyrned]

Plus, most of the fire extinguishers you buy for boats have to be upright to deliver their full capacity, and our engine ports are so low you'll never get it upright.

Great point! Wonder if having a hose nozzle would help.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

You also probably need an expensive CO2 or Halotron extinguisher for that port to work to its full potential.
Dealer supplied piece of crap duster isn’t going to do much if the fire isn’t at the front of the engines.

One of the best things about a CO2 extinguisher other than displacing all the oxygen is that it radically cools the area eliminating a heat source re ignition. Another plus is that there isnt retardant everywhere.

 

[David Martin]

Gas vapor ignite when you need to reach to reach a certain air/fuel ratio add spark and Boom ..........probably forgot to turn on the blower coming off plane or gas dock.

I added a micro switch on the throttle cable of my last boat anytime my throttle was below 1/3 the blower came on. My boat would not maintain plane at 1/3. On the Yamaha I now never turn off blower because I don't see the type of air scoops/vents that most boats have that push air through bilge at speed above idle.

I also lift hatch turn on blower at gas dock just to be on the safe side.............. and always lift the hatch before start on the water just to check for fumes and a quick look for water, oil leak ect ect...........no better sensor than the nose for gas fumes. Only takes a few seconds to keep a BIG woops from ruining you day.