Boat fires

[Scarlett]

I admit that I like to watch the boat fail videos on you tube. Seems like every time there is a boat on fire it is a fairly new boat, almost never an older boat. Any ideas why, maybe lithium batteries? Not sure and yet we older Hatt owners are the ones having trouble finding insurance. Maybe we should be forwarding these videos to the insurance companies. Just a thought

 

[SEVEN]

Great idea John.

 

[madhatter1]

Fire is the worst nightmare. Switched insurance and they want me to update fire extinguishers and re certify halon. Was initially bucking that but then thought go with the flow. I’ll have new compliant extinguishers plus the 4 old ones with the needle on charged as backups. And if needed I want that halon to trigger. We do redundancy on other things so heck yeah on safety items.

As for the lithium battery thing we have 2 scooters and 1 dinghy motor with those. I charge on the dock and store them in the shade. I don’t know if that’s why more newer boats are burning but it is a worrisome trend. Plus no one is safe if the boat next to you is burning.

 

[SEVEN]

Check those cable plugs every month. I e seen so many catch during the winter because of the extra heaters. Be safe.

 

[Pascal]

It s always hard to pinpoint the cause of boat fires. Lithium batteries have been suspected in a few cases of larger boats built with lithium batteries.

There have been proven cases of fires started by batteries like scooters, bikes etc. Even handheld radios. A report was recently released about a fire on a tanker bridge that was caused by handheld batteries.

We have an eFoil on the boat I run and even though the battery and industrial grade charger are US made, it s always a concern. We charge and store the battery in the crew lounge so it s stays cool but I have added a WiFi temp sensor that would alert me should the battery get hot.

 

[rsmith]

I’ve always noticed how fires and sinking increases when the economy turns south. Even mega yachts are not exempt

 

[Retired1]

I’ve always noticed how fires and sinking increases when the economy turns south. Even mega yachts are not exempt

Bingo. Remember when all the Marquis were burning? All their owners were the ‘young and fast’ crowd.

 

[Captain Ralph]

Question;

These Lithium batteries seem to have the benefits of strong power, maybe longer life and fast recharge.
This fast recharge is from the ability to accept the re-charge current at a higher level.

Is it this fast/high current that contributes to the heat and issues?

Can you slow down that charge rate? Reduce the current and heat?

 

[Pascal]

Lithium battery charging need to be carefully regulated which the cheap Chinese chargers for bikes and stuff from china can not do. I guess that s why eFoil uses industrial grade chargers, same with seaBob.

What scares me about lithium batteries for boats is that the regulation system is built into the battery and while they are supposed to be sealed, there has been documented cases of such batteries self igniting after a flood.

A year ago, a 60’ racing IMOCA sailboat was lost to a fire off Portugal after a ballast failure flooded the lithium batteries which started burning. He was able to put out the fire only for it to flare up the next day. Third time around the batteries blew up and he just had time to grab his ditch bag and raft.

 

[SEVEN]

I know this is a European plug strip but it happens in the USA more than you think. Never use them.

 

[Pascal]

It a hard not to use multiplugs or strips. At least electronics chargers don’t use a lot of power but the other day I counted over 60 devices requiring chargers on the boat.

 

[bostonhatteras]

Not sure about newer boats lighting up. Channeling Carnac the Magnificent to see what will burn next, I see a stepped mast sans sails liveaboard 28' sailboat in a backwater 'marina' in the beginning of winter with lots of milk crates and storage on deck. Carnac is usually right.