Fire Port

[dietz]

Anyone use an extinguisher meant for the engine fire port? Typical cheap extinguishers are not meant to smother in port to suffocate fire, rather to be aimed at base if flames directly.

Seems like it would be wise to have a fire port extinguisher, but most I can find are huge & expensive, and not appropriately sized for a "smaller" recreational boat.

 

[Daren and Heather]

Yeah I didn't want to spend another $200 on a fire extinguisher, but after doing some research I decided it was the right thing to do. I just bought a 5lb Halotron extinguisher, it has a nozzle that fits through the fireport. Right now I just have it sitting in the compartment near the battery till I decide how to mount it. Buckeye 75550 Halotron Hand Held Fire Extinguisher with Aluminum Valve, 5.5 lbs Agent Capacity, 4-1/4" Diameter x 6-1/2" Width x 16-3/8" Height: Science Lab Emergency Response Equipment: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

 

[dietz]

Thanks.
Curious, you noted after doing some research:
Can you share any research findings that led to your choice?

 

[Daren and Heather]

I only researched about the fire port in general, and the types of fire extinguishers. Basically if there is a fire in your engine bay, you really dont want to open the hatch and give it a huge big gulp of air (think of the movie backdraft). Thus the whole point of the fire port. And as you know, a regular fire extinguisher will not be effective thru the fire port as it won't smother the fire. So I researched different types of fire extinguishers, to find the cheapest that would be effective, but with enough volume to smother, but to not take up too much space, and with a flexible nozzle that would easily fit through the fireport. So I came up with Halotron, 5lbs. And the Buckeye model I posted was still the cheapest option I found at $200 and had a nozzle that fit. Buckeye is a legit company, and made in USA. If you find a better option than I did though, post it here for others. And man did I HATE spending $200 for a fire extinguisher! But made me feel responsible at least lol.