Engine Compartment Fire Canister

[Maurice]

Have a 1973 38' FBDC with a fire canister as shown in photo. The original design drawing is labeled Halon, but it might have Carbon Dioxide? The last date checked on the card is 1999. Is there any way to confirm whats inside and whether or not there is any charge left ... without discharging it, of course?

 

[Pascal]

Halon was still used back in the 90s. Nowadays it’s been replaced by another agent, friendlier to the ozone layer... if it hasn’t been checked in 20+ year I would have it done. The bottle will have etc hydro tested etc. maybe better off replacing with a new one. They’re not that expensive.

 

[captainwjm]

I had mine done and had all other extinguishers [about 10] checked as well; costs about $400. My ER cannister had to be sanded and painted to meet the inspector's ok so that drove up the price a bit. In boat terms, a minor expense..

 

[Captain Ralph]

If it is the old Halon 1301 (the best still), there is a total weight typed on the lable.
Weigh just the bottle.
If it real close, it's good.
There is no Hydro required on the old halon bottles.

Sadly, it is not an environmentally safe agent and was banned from new manufacturing. The cost of refills, if still available, was very tall.
But when there is a fire, you want the best and don't worry much about the environment.

 

[Captain Ralph]

It looks like a stamped and rolled bottle, the bottom is not rounded like a CO2 bottle.
The later Halon, Haltron and others (not CO2), do not require hydro either, just find the mfg tag or original paper work with the factory weight and scale the bottle.
There is usually not any stamps into the metal on a stamped & rolled bottle.

If it worries you, take it to a fire supply company for inspection or disposal and purchase a new bottle.

 

[Maurice]

Thanks, all,
I believe i will remove and replace with a new canister.
It does not have a round bottom ... flat.

 

[Scarlett]

I am a marine surveyor and deal with this all the time. What Ralph said is pretty spot on. Weight should be within 5 per cent of the listed weight on the bottle and you are good to go. If uncomfortable take it to a fire extinguisher shop. All they will do is weigh it. John

 

[UNIQUE_NAME]

as an aside, you must be in fresh water. those are original risers.

 

[Maurice]

as an aside, you must be in fresh water. those are original risers.

Yes, it's entire life in Georgian Bay, part of Lake Huron. Water is clear for about 10' to 12' down. The bottom was perfectly clean after several years in the water when I picked it up last September. Now in Lake Erie ... not so good. Both previous owners had used it like a trawler ( 8-10 kts) and it passed the compression check and the borescope check during the survey - 2900 hours. Hope they have a bit of life left. We will also cruise at that speed.

As a matter of interest, the 427 is a Ford engine marinized by Chris Craft, as most of you would know, and I had to do an in-depth search to find the original colour (not commercially available). I found a CC aficionado who had developed his own recipe for the color using an Imron base. I got the formula and had it mixed by a local paint shop. The bilge is painted with Interlux Bilgecoat and the engines are now painted with the original CC color.