Will I kill myself if I........

[Captned]

Remove my big red CO2 tank from my boat myself? I searched this site and found some great information in previous posts, but I'm still kinda leary about doing this myself. Plus, what do I do / how to get rid of / the tank and associated stuff?

Yes I have read all the discussions pro and con about co2 verses FE 241, but the reason its coming out is that the WIFE / ADMIRAL told me to take it out! Its taking up precious room in the closet in our galley. As liveaboards, every inch is important on a 46 convertible. And I can make some killer slide out shelfs for storage. A LOT more storage than I have now...

I have the new system ready to be installed. It will mount to the aft engine room bulkhead. I have the engine / generator shut down control head ready to install. I will install the new system before I remove the old.

Still, after reading some posts on here, I dont want to slip up and have her come home and find me and more importantly the new puppy dead!
That would suck!

Thanks in advance,

Captned
78 46 CON

 

[Genesis]

Remove the actuator from the top of the bottle first and put the cap on it. Once that has been done, its safe to move.

Be aware that if it fires you will black out and, if not immediately rescued, will suffocate. The system firing will also produce insane amounts of both noise and a "white out" condition from the CO2 instantly freezing on discharge to "dry ice" crystals.

So yeah, there's risk. If you're not comfortable with doing this call a fire extinguisher company - they can safe the bottle and remove it for you.

 

[shark 1007]

For the puppies sake... call the extinguisher company.

 

[Boatsb]

Call them. You need to have it discharged and disposed of anyway.

 

[MikeP]

I know this sounds childish but If it was me, I'd say the Heck with these wusses and pull the manual release just to hear/see and the bottle will then be safe to remove...except for the weight! I'd invite my fellow marina folks to watch - charge them a buck.

The PO of our 53 had a grandkid pull the release on two occasions. He said it sounded like a 747 was landing...ON THE BOAT!

Yeah, yeah, don't try this at home!

(sounds like fun though, no?)

 

[SKYCHENEY]

What is the difference between the C02 tank on my boat and the C02 tank on the fountain machine in my convenience store? I guess just maybe the top - manual hand valve on the store unit.

The reason I ask is that we have turned the valve wide open on those big tanks just to hear them before and yes, they are loud. The hole on that valve is only about 1/8", so I can imagine the volume coming out of the boat tank.

Like Mike said, it has to be emptied anyway, so why not let it go?

 

[Captned]

Uhhhhh.... Well..... ummmmm......Isnt that the kind of thing you want to see your buddy do on HIS boat while you stand on the dock listening?

Seriously thou, What would happen? Is it dangerous to be in the boat when it goes off? ( I know not to be in the engine room) My pull is in the salon right over the engines...Cant say how tight my engine room ventaltion is.... Would it injure stuff in the engine room? Does it just dissipate? Glad I dont have a few in me right now... Funny how your courage goes up after a couple!

Captned
78 46 CON

Yes I know, I'll put the puppy on the dock.

 

[Boatsb]

It would probably freeze half the engine room. Electronics, wood and mechanicals could be harmed. take it out and then set it off in a safe place.

 

[shark 1007]

Youtube

 

[captddis]

There is no harm in setting it off, often when they need to have the hydrostat test done the tech pops it off to lighten the tank. I tried this on a Bertram that needed recertification. I had just run the boat 2500 miles. pulled the lever and the tank was empty. Suprise.
I wanted to pop mine off last year, but the tech did not want to wait for the gas to clear.

 

[StratPlan61]

I have had experience with discharging one of these during an on-board fire. I would recommend calling the extinguisher professionals in to safe,remove and dispose of this tank. You may be able to sell/trade it for partial payment for their service call.
After using mine I had it recertified, recharged and reinstalled. I love being a DIY'er but it is wisdom which helps one understand the limits of DIY projects. Can you do it, sure. If you had to do it in a distant land, you could. Why put yourself at risk unnecessarily? I enjoy knowing my comfort limits.

Save your money on the new install. Pay the pros when it makes sense to do so. My .02 worth.

 

[first big boat]

I'd invite the mother-in-law over before pulling the handle

just kidding....sort of

 

[fissioneng]

I just got off the phone with a professional service that might do the re-certification of the system on my boat. I told him about this discussion and he said that as long as you air everything out (removing the asphyxiation danger) afterwards, the CO2 shouldn't harm anything or anyone.

The bigger danger is something breaking or coming loose in the piping system when it blows. If it hasn't been serviced or tested in a long time, a pipe or hose could blow off and damage something or someone.

Also, if it is fully charged, it has 1800 psi in it. That can be quite the missile if the top gets knocked off or damaged. Anyone seen the MythBusters show about that? The cylinder went through a cinder block wall....no problem.

Pay someone.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

How about plumbing the cylinder to outside and then letting it go? It would just take few pieces of black pipe and some fittings.

 

[Brian Degulis]

You can remove it safely just remove the head and put the cap on it. Or you can discharge it just leave the hatch open the only danger is a sudden build up of pressure if the space is to tight. Then use your blowers or fans to ventilate it's not toxic or hazerdous it's just Co2 I've done it many times on commercial boats to get them hydroed. I'm not sure where your located but I'd love to have the old system if your anywhere near Tampa FL I'll remove it for the system.

Brian

 

[MikeP]

The only thing I'd offer other than, "Just pull the handle," is that I'd rethink removing it. It's a better fire system than what you will replace it with and it's already there.

But I understand the Admiral "factor."

 

[Maynard Rupp]

I have delt with this stuff for 20 years when I inspected emergency liferafts. I have a tank in my garage that is the size of the 132lb. tank on our Hat. No, the stuff won't hurt anything on your boat or your engine room. It comes out cold, but go to Detroit now and stick your head outside. If your engines are running, they will stop. The CO2 removes the oxygen from the area. You don't want to be in the closed engine room when it goes off. Remember, it removes the O2 so you won't be able to breathe. Just leave and you'll be fine. This isn't bad stuff, it puts out fires, leaves no residue, and does not cause any corrosion. I think it is the best choice for a fire extinguisher system. The only disadvantage is its size and weight.

 

[mtadamek]

Put up a sign. "Remove warts for a buck"

 

[Angela]

Ned, back to MikeP's comment about charging a buck to watch someone else do it, where I pay my dollar to watch you pull the lever on YOUR boat?

 

[skrmetta90]

You can shoot it with a high powered rifle and it won't explode, that's all i know. There was a Mythbusters show dedicated to TV legends, and one was the old, "smile you son of a bitch" from Jaws. I can't remember how many tanks they shot, but none exploded. Now that i think about it, maybe it was a diving tank. I don't know, maybe shooting it isn't a good idea.......