don’t hesitate to renovate | by Capt. Frank Lanier
Sound the Alarm Choosing and installing a carbon monoxide detector.
W
hile shouts of “Fire!,” “Man overboard!” or “We’re out of ice!” are all cries of alarm boaters dread hearing, there’s one alarm many won’t hear that could wind up costing them their lives: The wail of a carbon monoxide detector. Too often this isn’t because the danger doesn’t exist, but rather because there’s no detector installed to begin with. Many of the headline-making news stories concerning boaters and carbon monoxide end badly, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Let’s take a look at how to protect yourself and everyone else on board by installing a carbon monoxide detector.
Know thy enemy Carbon monoxide (CO for short) is a potentially lethal gas produced when burning any carbon-based fuel (gasoline, diesel, propane, wood, etc). The most common source of CO is exhaust from gasoline or diesel engines, although it can be produced by any open flame device, such as stoves, heaters or grills. CO is colorless, odorless, tasteless and mixes evenly with air, meaning it readily travels throughout a boat’s interior
Co Safety Guidelines
The following general safety recommendations concerning the dangers of carbon monoxide apply to all vessels, and in particular to houseboats and/or similarly constructed vessels: n Stay out of areas where carbon monoxide can collect while the engine or generator is running and for at least an hour afterwards. The U.S. Coast Guard advises boat owners and operators to turn off generators with transom exhaust ports when the swim platform on the stern is in use. n Don’t allow swimmers near exhaust portals or areas where air pockets may be located under the boat. Swimmers should avoid the area beneath transom swim platforms or rear decks while the engine or generator is running; if exhaust vents are located on the vessel’s side, these areas should be avoided as well. Adults should keep a close watch on children at all times, particularly when they are playing or swimming in the swim platform area. As a general rule, passengers or crew should not be allowed to sit on swim platforms while the vessel’s engine(s) or generator is running. n Use caution when boats are tied together, as carbon monoxide generated in one vessel can enter another via air conditioner intakes, open portholes, etc. n Know the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning and if suspected, relocate the victim to an area of fresh air and seek immediate medical attention. n Read and obey all carbon monoxide warnings placed on generators and engines by the manufacturer and never tamper with or disconnect carbon monoxide detectors or monitors. n Turn off generators prior to going to sleep and turn off the main AC breaker so “demand start” generators will not engage during the night. — F.L.
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jAnuAry 2014
spaces. It enters the body through the lungs and is easily absorbed into the bloodstream, where it displaces oxygen levels and can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Although death can occur quickly in a CO rich environment, exposure to smaller amounts can be just as lethal, as the effects of CO are cumulative and can build up gradually in a person’s bloodstream for hours or even days before reaching critical levels. How quickly this occurs is dependent on the concentration of CO being inhaled (measured in parts per million, PPM) and the duration of exposure. Common signs of CO poisoning include headaches, dizziness, weakness, drowsiness, headache and nausea — symptoms that can all-to-easily be attributed to sea sickness, alcohol consumption or too much sun exposure, rather than CO poisoning.
CO detectors Since carbon monoxide (unlike the smoke generated by a fire) is colorless, tasteless and odorless, the only reliable way to guard against it is installation of a CO detector. The American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC), an organization that writes voluntary standards for recreational boats, has called for installation of CO detectors on all boats with enclosed accommodation areas and a gasoline generator or inboard gasoline propulsion engine since 1998. ABYC exempts diesel engines from this requirement, and while it’s true they produce less CO than gasoline engines, my personal recommendation is that detectors be installed aboard all vessels with sleeping accommodations. CO can easily be generated by other onboard sources or even introduced from nearby boats via the ventilation system, which is especially true of boats running air conditioning.
Choosing a CO detector The first impulse for many boaters is to buy a home-type CO detector, but as they typically don’t meet the construction requirements for marine-grade units (such as Underwriters Laboratories Standard 1524), their use is not recommended. Marine CO detectors can be either battery powered (the 9-volt type) or hardwired. The obvious benefit of battery-powered units is that they can be installed almost anywhere without the need for wiring; however, this lack of an external power supply can also be a disadvantage from a reliability standpoint. Like their land-based counterparts, battery-powered, marine-grade CO detectors “chirp” to warn users when their internal battery is low. The problem is that boats (unlike a