Fishing boat expoldes - Hillsboro Beach - Capt burned

[IRGuy]

Saw this tonight on The Hull Truth.

Got to be aware of what you are doing!

http://www.local10.com/news/Fishing-boa ... index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Bertramp]

What explodes like that on a diesel boat ?

[mike ohlstein]

Maybe de-greasing something with gasoline?

[Capt.Frank]

I know a lot of guys use brake clean to clean engines before repainting.

[JP Dalik]

Batteries

It looks like one of the west coast inspired Vikings meant to be a fish around. Note the center tower ladder, bow rail and raised outriggers.

[IRGuy]

An article I read about this accident said the captain was cleaning something in the engine room.. flammable solvents in an enclosed area maybe? I suppose there could have been any number of ignition sources.. light switches, bilge pump starting, a spark when touching a live conductor with a tool..

I spent a good bit of my career working with nasty stuff in chemical plants.. hydrogen gas, molten metallic sodium, solvents, carcinogens. It was no BS.. safety is your #1 concern.

All it takes is a slip of the hand and disaster can strike... I read of an instance where a boat owner was working on an inboard engine.. had a can of WD-40 in his hand.. dropped it onto his exposed battery bank.. the current blew a hole in the can releasing the contents instantly, which ignited into a fireball that engulfed the guy, burning his face and chest badly.

Listen to us old guys! We didn't get this old by being stupid!

Please be careful and think about what you are doing!