bertram31.com

I was cleaning out some storage at my parents house and came across a Fireboy fire suppression system that I purchased when I re-powered. My engine installers were very hesitant to install it as they were concerned about the damage it would do to the engines should it accidentally discharge. They also noted that it was not exactly a sealed engine space on a Bertram 31 so they recommended I not install.

I wonder what others have for this concern. Fire at sea is a real issue in my mind and a concern. I would like the ability to get off safely, and ideally have it self manage (put itself out vs. burn out) especially now that I have a daughter spending time on the boat with me.

What do other people have/what have others done?

I do not have the automatic engine shutdown, I think it is only required for Diesel (see below). When I bought my boat 8 years ago this came up on the survey, either they were expired or weren't there at all, I forget. I do clearly remember that was a fix that was mandated by the insurance Co. Personal opinion, as many of you are I am overly cautious, ditch bag is out even when we cruise the bay, all offshore life jackets out and ready, new passengers get a safety drill before we push off. I'd take the risk of destroying your engines over having to abandon ship if there is a fire, although even with the fire boys you may end up in the water. Especially considering your two ladies have one way out of that cabin which is past those engines....

"Automatic Marine Engine Shutdown
Required for Diesel Engines

Compressed gas suppressants such as HFC-227ea and 3M™ Novec™ 1230 Fire Protection Fluid will not stall a diesel engine.

If a fire breaks out aboard a diesel powered vessel, the engine(s) must be shut down prior or during the discharge of the Fireboy suppression system to effectively extinguish the fire. Continued engine operation may remove the agent, lowering the concentration required to effectively extinguish the fire, making an Engine Shutdown System necessary."

on my 1st 31 fbc
it had 454 crusaders
there was a halon system in each engine compartment

I just replaced the old Halon Fire boys.
I ordered the Novac and when I received them it stated vertical mount only. Nowhere else was that noted except the install manual.
Fire Boy was great and replaced with the HFC227 which can be mounted horizontally.
They went in last week and I just have to finish wiring the remote alarms at the helm.
I fit the overly cautious group as well. I want a chance of putting it out, even if I have to hit the drink it should hopefully buy some time.

What model of the Fire Boy system are you guys using? I have the original 454s if that makes a difference. What is involved in the installation? I gather that these systems are triggered by temperature. (Please correct me if I am wrong here.) What is the danger of false alarms with these systems?

Thanks,

Dug

With Diesels you need the auto shut off. If you do not have it then the systems are useless. The problem is, with Diesels, the fire suprressant will be sucked out by the engines you will never even realize it. Diesels just eat that stuff right up.


Another option I have seen is a port that is put in the side of the engine box. If you have a fire you do not need to open the box. Just shoot the extinguisher through the port. Does it work, I have no idea.

I have 454's as well and if you read my earlier post I chose the Novac models but they can only be installed vertically. My Halon units were installed horizontally and that is where I had room to install the new units. I exchanged them for the HFC227 auto/manual models. They fit right where the old ones were. Just an extra precaution.

I see that they list these by the number of cubic feet that they cover. What size units do I need for a B31? Can someone post a picture showing how you mounted them?

thanks,

I used 100 CF models. They are the same physical size as the 75 CF and the engine bays if I remember right are around 80. I didn't take pics when I did them but I will be at the boat this weekend and can do so if you would like.

I have them in each engine compartment. i replaced them around 2000. I never had a problem with the older halons or the newer ones. I will risk the engine damage for the protection and peace of mind they provide!

For those that are interested. Below are pics of how my Fire Boy units are installed. I bought the option of manual release but have not integrated that as of yet.

https://imgur.com/K2q7PbY
https://imgur.com/yWYHfKu
https://imgur.com/UhGNUYv
https://imgur.com/K2j0Pcp
https://imgur.com/vWkz4AU
https://imgur.com/F2IBEOt
https://imgur.com/smEb3dy
https://imgur.com/ZOBGlMk

Does anyone have installation instructions that you could for the Fireboy that you could scan and post. Before I get too far into this project I would like to be certain that I have appropriate places to mount these units in my engine rooms.

Thanks,

I don't have the instructions, but mine are mounted to the wood strip the engine box sits on with the nozzle facing aft. Pretty simple. No auto shutoff needed for gas engines.

Where do you recommend locating the manual release cable for the Fireboy system? The manual suggests minimizing the number of bends in the cable which would seem to rule out the flying bridge or even the lower helm.

Thanks,

Like control cables it's not the bends themselves, it's the radius of the bends.
Use long radius bends not tight bends. Bridge is fine.

The biggest issue is they never get used and freeze up over time. Disconnect the end once a year, exercise the cable and re hook up.

I have not ordered a system yet, but I downloaded the installation manual from Jamestown. It says that the ground for the engine compartment blower must be routed through the pressure switch so that the blower will shut down automatically when the system is triggered. It says that the pressure switch can only handle 5 amps. If the blower draws more than 5 amps they say that the ground needs to go through the automatic shutdown system.

My boat is under shrink wrap now so I will not be able to check the specs on my blowers until spring.

WAC wrote:For those that are interested. Below are pics of how my Fire Boy units are installed. I bought the option of manual release but have not integrated that as of yet.

https://imgur.com/K2q7PbY
https://imgur.com/yWYHfKu
https://imgur.com/UhGNUYv
https://imgur.com/K2j0Pcp
https://imgur.com/vWkz4AU
https://imgur.com/F2IBEOt
https://imgur.com/smEb3dy
https://imgur.com/ZOBGlMk

Looking at pictures 5 and 7 above, can someone confirm that these units are oriented correctly. The instructions which came with my Fire Boy systems state that the actuator should be pointed toward the engine or opposite bulkhead. They don't explicitly show what the actuator is, but I am assuming that it the part enclosed by the "cage". In above pictures, the system on the port engine looks like actuator is pointed up and the one on the starboard engine is pointed down.

Also, is there any potential problem installing this close to the heat exchanger?

Thanks,

Mine are pointed across the top of the engine towards the transom. Is this correct, who knows, but I figured any fire would be starting there and that the suppressant is probably heavier than air and would settle. Also it would smother the engine!

They are installed per the instructions. One discharge is up and one is down so the gauge for both remains visible. The cage protects the discharge and spray head. They are positioned this way to spray across the engine compartment and settle down to smother the fire. I flirted with mounting them lengthwise but they would block all access to the outboard sides of the engines. I believe the main key is to get them up high in a decent spot so they feel the heat and have a top down smothering effect. The choices are limited in the 31 engine boxes.
The previous system was in the same spot for many many years. I've seen them in this location on multiple 31's.
My .02 for what it's worth.

Wayne,
Where would you put them in a 28. Is there room to be fitted, first of all. Thanks.
Has anybody fitted any in a 28? Thanks.

I have systems which are built to accommodate manual release cables but I have not yet installed the cables. The instructions say to leave the safety pin after installing the cable. If I install it without the cable do I still need to remove the safety pin to make the system operational? The instructions do not say anything about this?

Call customer service with any of those technical questions. When I switched mine out due to the Novac needing to be installed vertically only, they were great. Very helpful and responsive.
I would ask the experts about any functionality questions.