New York Safe Boating - 2020 - 18

Fire Extinguishers

Types of extinguishers

The two most common types of fire extinguishers are dry
chemical and carbon dioxide (CO2). Dry chemical and
carbon dioxide extinguishers can be effective on fires
caused by common combustibles (Class A), such as wood
and paper, flammable liquids (Class B), such as fuel or
grease and electrical fires (class C). Never use water on
class B or C fires. For common combustibles (class A) both
dry chemical and carbon dioxide may be used but should
be followed up with water to help prevent re-flash.

US Coast Guard Approved fire extinguishers are required
on boats where a fire hazard could be expected from the
motors or the fuel system. Non-mechanically propelled boats
are not required to carry a fire extinguisher, nor are personal
watercraft.
To be approved it must be mounted, such as near the helm
where it is easily accessible to the operator, in a marinetype mounting bracket designed for the extinguisher. Fire
extinguishers that do not satisfy the requirements or that have
been partially discharged are not compliant with the law. You
must replace a partially discharged extinguisher or take it to a
qualified fire extinguisher servicing company for recharge.

Extinguisher labels can be confusing. Fire extinguishers
are classified by a symbol that is comprised of a letter
and a Roman numeral. The letter indicates the type of fire
the extinguisher is approved for, and the Roman numeral
indicates the size of the extinguisher. Look for the part
of the label that says "Marine Type US COAST GUARD
APPROVED." Most portable extinguishers will be either
size I or II. Size III and larger are too big for use on most
recreational boats.

BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE EXTINGUISHER
AND LEARN HOW TO USE IT BEFORE YOU
NEED IT. READ THE LABEL AND INSTRUCTIONS
CAREFULLY!

Fire extinguisher maintenance

Boats with inboard engines
are more susceptible to fires
because the engine space is
enclosed. The operator may
not see fuel leaks or recognize
other potentially explosive
conditions as they develop,
and it's possible for a fire to
take hold without the operator
being aware of it. Operators
of gasoline inboard powered
boats should consider installing
an automatic fixed extinguishing system in order to reduce
the danger of fire. Don't forget to ventilate the engine space.
Blow out any flammable vapors out of the bilge by running the
blower a minimum of four minutes before starting the engine.

Devote some time to caring for your fire extinguishers
properly, and they can last many years. To be sure that
your fire extinguisher will work properly when you need it,
inspect your extinguishers monthly. Make sure that:

 Seals and tamper indicators are not broken or
missing

 Pressure gauges or indicators read in the

operable range (Note: CO2 extinguishers do not
have gauges.)

 There is no visual damage such as cracked or

broken hoses, rust, corrosion, leakage or clogged
nozzles

There will be a minimum weight on the extinguisher label,
and you need to assure that your extinguisher remains at
the minimum weight. Make sure of this by weighing your
extinguishers every year.

Some boats are fitted with a fixed US COAST GUARD
APPROVED fire extinguishing system that protects the engine
compartment. These boats may not need to carry as many
portable fire extinguishers as shown on the chart below.

If you have doubts about your fire extinguisher, never
test it to see if it works. Instead, have it inspected by
a professional to determine if it is reliable and in good
working order.

Minimum number of hand portable fire
extinguishers required
Boat Length

No Fixed
System

With approved
Fixed Systems

Less than 26'

1 B-I

26' to less than 40'

2 B-I or 1 B-II

1 B-I

40' to 65'

3 B-I or 1 B-II
& 1 B-1

2 B-I or 1 B-II

Outboards Less Than 26' and
of Open Construction *

EQUIPMENT

Backfire Flame Arrestor
All gasoline engines with carburetors tend to vent fuel
vapor after shutdown. This vapor goes into the engine
compartment and will linger for a while. The vapor does
no harm as long as there is no source of ignition in the
compartment. Sources of ignition can be electric such as
a spark, or a backfire in the engine intake system when
you start an engine. On a boat, flames spouting out of a
carburetor can ignite fuel vapor in an engine compartment.
A backfire flame arrestor prevents the heat and flames of
an engine backfire from igniting any flammable vapors that
may be present in the engine compartment. A backfire
flame arrestor is required on all inboard gasoline engines,

*Open construction is a boat built with no closed compartments or
compartments under seats where portable fuel tanks may be stored
and no deck under which vapors can accumulate.

New York Safe Boating - 2020

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