05/17/2020
I have a couple thoughts I want to share regarding the boat fire yesterday and the sunken boat we raised on Friday.
First of all - drain plugs - when the boat is out of the water the drain plug should be out. This is just good practice. This allows you to see how much water accumulated in your boat when you remove it after a day on the water. You can also see if there are problems, like a gasoline leak or oil. And finally is keeps the bilge dry if it rains, or your storage has a leak in the roof. There is no good reason to keep the drain plug in the boat when out of the water.
So, boat out - drain plug out. Boat in - drain plug in.
It should be installed just before the boat hits the water. If your boat developed a gas leak while out of the water, you would see and smell it at the ramp while installing the plug and know to investigate further.
Second point, engine compartment blowers. People seem to not truly understand their usage. A blower is secondary to the human nose. Again, good practice dictates you should raise the engine hatch BEFORE DOING ANYTHING ELSE when launching. You need to visually look around the engine compartment and sniff thoroughly for fumes. If you smell gas, pull the boat back up the ramp and locate the source.
Now, if you simply have fumes (which used to happen with carbureted engines now and then, but not much with fuel injection), the blower will assist in clearing fumes out of the bilge. You should smell the air coming out the blower vent on the side of the boat to make sure the fumes are clear before starting.
However, if your boat developed an active fuel leak during storage, fill up or the trip to the ramp, you would probably first notice it when you install the drain plug. This is one reason to leave the plug out until launch. If you have left the plug installed, you are in effect trapping any leaked fuel in the bilge of the boat. That means you diligently have to search and smell before starting with the hatch up.
If you have leaked fuel in the bilge, have left the engine hatch closed and run the blower and then turn the key, it is very possible the boat will start and run, but - but, with the blower continuing to run and drawing fresh air into the bilge, there will be a tipping point where the fuel-to-air ratio will allow the fumes to ignite and explode.
Too much fuel vs air, probably not an explosion
Too much air vs fuel, probably not an explosion
Correct ratio, and all it takes is a spark.
Finally, do not let people at the ramp rush your routine for a safe startup. Same goes at a fuel dock. Your life depends on a good, safe startup and fueling procedures.
