Posted: 28th Mar 2023

Fire Safety on Boats

Below are a few top tips on how to stay safe on your boat and help minimise the risk of a fire. Boat fires do happen and can take hold very quickly. Don’t let this be your boat…

Make sure appliances are installed and maintained by a trained fitter.
Fit smoke alarms, carbon monoxide and gas detectors.
Turn off fuel and gas supplies properly after use.
Dispose of cigarettes carefully.
Do not barbeque on or close to your boat.
Take care when fueling and clean up any spillages. Do not fuel within the Marina.
Keep fire extinguishers and blankets close to exits and risk points such as the galley and engine area.
Familiarise yourself with the location of Marina jetty extinguishers and fire bells.
Make sure you and your crew know what to do in an emergency.
In the event of a fire move everybody off the boat and call 999 immediately.

The Boat Safety Scheme has an excellent booklet called Fire Safety On Boats which contains many more useful hints and tips. Copies of this are available from the Marina Reception.

Boat Safety

The tragic deaths of a mother and daughter aboard a boat on Windermere over Easter a few years ago shocked and saddened us all. The boat was moored on a public jetty in Bowness and although not confirmed, it is suggested the cause of death may have been from Carbon Monoxide poisoning.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is produced when fossil fuels, such as gas, LPG, oil, petrol and diesel burn. A build up of CO can occur in a boat due to faulty or badly maintained appliances; exhaust fumes from engines or generators; blocked ventilation or short supply of air.

The Boat Safety Scheme has a very useful document giving advice on how to protect you and your crew. To find out more follow this link to visit the website. We also have paper copies of these available at the Marina Reception.

The Boat Safety Scheme website is full of other useful information including Fire Safety and Electrical Safety. A bit of time spent reading these and taking some easy steps will help you protect the safety of you and your loved ones.