The Best Place To Store a Fire Extinguisher on Your Boat

If you’re a boat owner, you know that safety is paramount when it comes to being out on the water. One of the most important pieces of equipment to keep on board is a fire extinguisher. But having a fire extinguisher on board isn’t enough. You also need to make sure it’s stored in the right place, so it’s easily accessible in case of an emergency. In this blog post, we’ll cover the different types of extinguishers, so you can choose the one that’s best for your needs.

Types of Fire Extinguishers

When out on the water, marine safety should always be a top priority. One of the most important safety measures is having an appropriate fire extinguisher onboard. There are three general classes of fire extinguishers designed to tackle different types of fires: A, B, and C. Class A fires involve ordinary combustibles, while class B fires involve flammable liquids. Class C covers fires caused by electrical components. Knowing the right type of fire extinguisher for your boat is key to ensuring the boat is fully protected.

Storing Your Extinguisher

Once the right type of fire extinguisher has been determined for the boat, the next step is to decide where it should be stored. When locating and mounting a fire extinguisher, boat safety should be kept in mind first and foremost. This means all rules and regulations set by the boat’s manufacturer or local maritime board must be followed.

When selecting a location for a fire extinguisher, it should be easily accessible in case of an emergency but also secure enough so as not to roll around and cause an accident onboard. On larger vessels, it may often be practical to keep two or more fire extinguishers around the boat in various locations to cover all angles in cases of emergency.

Installing and Maintaining Your Fire Extinguisher

When mounting a marine fire extinguisher, the mounting brackets and screws must be specifically designed for holding fire extinguishers. This will ensure that the extinguisher stays secure during movement and vibrations caused by waves and other elements of being at sea.

Once a fire extinguisher has been installed, it requires regular maintenance to make sure it is up-to-date and ready for use in an emergency. Fire extinguishers should always be checked to make sure they have enough pressure inside and that the expiration date is still valid. Most fire extinguishers only last for a few years, even if they have not been used. It’s important that they can still be operated easily when needed and that they are not blocked by objects such as stowaways or cupboards. Keeping fire extinguishers easily accessible and testing them regularly can help prevent fires from turning into disasters on boats.

Conclusion

Having a fire extinguisher on your boat is an important safety measure that can’t be overlooked. When selecting and mounting a fire extinguisher, it’s important to choose the right type of device for its intended use, such as an A-rated unit for combustibles and a B-rated unit for flammable liquids. It’s essential to select and install a secure mounting bracket that can withstand the movement of waves and other factors of being at sea. Regularly check the fire extinguisher and make sure it’s in working order and not blocked or expired, so that it can be used in the event of an emergency. By following these steps, you can rest assured knowing your boat is safe and secure.