boat explodes at Lake of the Ozarks
 

Cruiser with fuel fumes ignited @ Milestone Marine

Just another Saturday. This time made news because of number of people.

Back in the mid 70s we lived on my parents sailboat during the summer in Holland Michigan. There was a gas dock on the other side of the channel.

Had a cruiser blowup and burn at the gas dock right before sunset one night. About a month later I was sailing by the gas dock in my little sailboat and a stern drive boat blew up.

My neighbor down here in Naples ran a sky crane down by the bay and a 43 Tiara blew up the day after the mechanic did a service on it

neighbor said there was parts flying above his 200 foot perch.


they had the boat at a marina after the explosion the hull was split like a banana peel. The deck totally blown off. The inside was intact but looked like a bomb went off inside.

im anal about blowers running on boats.

When we first got our Portifino. I always smelled gas filling up. thought it was normal. Went down one time to check oil when fueling and saw fuel pouring out of a cracked hose from fill to tank where is did an S turn. I have NO idea why it never blew up. We were just pouring fuel into bilge. Could have been Ugly.

The stuff of nightmares

The reason it didn't blow was most likely too rich of a mixture in the bilge.

Some of these explosions at the lake are a result of folks running the blower while they are filling up as opposed to waiting until the fill up is done and then running the blower for several minutes before starting the engine(s). Depending where the fuel fill is in relation to the fresh air intake for the bilge you could be filling the bilge with fumes by running the blower while filling up. I know my gas dock where I slipped (Formula) was militant on no blowers on until after filling up. This came about after this happened in 2020 a cove over from my dock at Bridgeview. Wife and I were wiping the boat down when we heard this go off. I thought they were dynamiting somewhere it was so loud/concussive. At the time I snapped this pic, I had no idea there was a person still inside the boat.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...9b6a2f460b.jpg

The way I was taught was, Blowers off while pumping gas. Boat passengers off the boat. Cabin doors closed. Blowers after filling for a bit. I may be wrong, but I thought it was a law in Michigan that nobody was allowed on the vessel while filling. Like a motorcycle at the pump.

After Fueling any gas inboard boat , you should always lift the hatches and sniff test ..

I've unfortunately known multiple people who have had boat explosions, One of my friends lost his wife in such an accident.

Here's my protocol, feel free to critique me:

The blower is on on my boat whenever one or more of the conditions is true:

1. After refueling (5 minutes min + sniff test before starting)
2. After the engine has been off (5 minutes min or sniff test before starting)
3. Any time the engine is running below 2000rpm

I recently became aware, while riding with a friend, that he ran his blower then turned the blower off prior to starting his engine. The blower was not used again for the rest of the trip. I used to think he was a safe boat operator. When I told him what he is doing is unsafe, he didn't change his actions. His wife said, "He's been boating for a long time, and I trust him." I pray his good luck continues, but I don't want to rely on luck.

I'm very anal about my fill up procedure. Everyone off the boat, shut off all electronics and close all hatches/enclosures. After filling, turn on blower, open engine hatch and sniff test. However, I always have to yell at the gas attendant not to untie my boat until I'm finished and the boat is running. Almost every time the kid will untie before I even start the engine!!!

BTW, how did they have 16 people on that boat?!?!

Always a fear of mine at the fuel docks. Just seeing how a lot of people boating are oblivious and the condition of their equipment...its always on my mind. I will wait back and not tie up if I see an older boat or someone that looks like a rookie. It could happen even to an experienced captain. Modern fuel injection makes this much less of a possibility


I try to go fill up when there isn't anyone else up there or when traffic is low.

The last few years at the fuel docks I was always very much aware of the other boats around me when it was time for them to start engines after they filled up. I made sure to be as far away from them as I could be.

Not pointing fingers here but we've had a significant # of new boaters to LOTO since wuFlu. Education is paramount IMO and I don't believe many of these owners have a clue about water saftey, operational rules or observation of mechanical aspect of a boat. Visual observation of these items is essential regardless or your experience.. There we're 15 peeps on this boat, not uncommon but can you imagine the blow back from the political pin heads had there been losses of life, especially after the events with that Nortech at the 1mm.

My bet is bad plug wires more than blower motors as the igniter. A few years ago I started a boat at night on the hose and the wires had very visible arcs around the distributor cap. Lots of boats out there with 20 year old plug wires.

It was a 40'+ Carver Cabin Cruiser.

and the non ethanol Fuel lines on old boats

I don`t even have blowers .

You have Whipples :lolhit: