Fire extinguisher mounting

O

olygirl

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 2, 2017
Messages
59
Fluid Motion Model
C-30 S
Vessel Name
Cool Mint 2
Anyone have ideas about how to mount fire extinguishers? I obviously don't want to drill into fiberglass and there aren't many options for using wood to mount to in our R23. Does double sided velcro work if the unit is sitting on the floor or is that not strong enough to hold it in place when underway?

Also, someone mentioned a website a long time ago that contained a lot of great storage ideas for boats (e.g. a small rack to store plates and cups in that could be mounted in the galley) and now I can't find that. If anyone can provide that (or a different one) I would greatly appreciate it!

Laura
Cool Mint
 
I used some heavy-duty Velcro to mount the extinguishers vertically on the walls. I was skeptical at first; but after a year they are still securely in place.
 
There should be no problem mounting to fiberglass with screws. I have done it many times and so has the factory obviously. The key is to drill only into the liner and not the hull! Also make sure you are certain about what you want where as you don't want unsightly holes left if you move things. Starts placing masking tape over the general location first. Measure carefully and make things straight and level. Use a punch to mark the hole and stabilize the drill bit so it doesn't walk around. Drill a hole very slightly smaller than the outer threads of the screw. Use a stainless screw no longer than the thickness of the mounting material.

You could use an adhesive like 3M 4200 to try things out temporarily to make sure the location works in practice. If and when it comes off use screws per above.

Here is a teak organizer that looks interesting.

http://www.go2marine.com/product/20...m-UfXZcrgPLoBZfNT70fKU67TwZd9nLRoCpJIQAvD_BwE

Or this,
http://www.overtons.com/modperl/pro...CsMhQ6d6bELCL0H6Sgw3d4Y3otaDAzNhoCo40QAvD_BwE

Good luck,

Curt
 
Laura: The Teak facing panel in the cave's read surface that has the various electrical dials & switches is about 1/4 thick. The Fire Extinguisher's bracket can be secured to this and if the screw point did puncture through the 1/4" no harm done as there's a sufficient air gap behind it. Find a spot on the panel such that it's easily reached with an outstretched arm so that it can be accessed easily when needed. To be really safe use small screws that are no longer than 1/4".
 
My 2014 R-27 arrived with the fire extinguishers not mounted. The boat was Canadian owned so I have to get new USCG rated extinguishers.

Where does the factory mount the required two extinguishers?
 
The factory typically will not install or attach the Fire Extinguishers to any part of the boat. They leave it to the owner to establish where it is to be attached/located. Obviously you want it/them to be easily accessed with their full/empty dial visible and the date label showing when last checked to be readily available for the USCG Inspectors each year. 🙂
 
Barry,

That is amazing! That a 'fully equipped' boat sold with safety gear requires the new owner to install the extingushers 'somewhere'!

Factory question: How is an owner supposed to know 'where and how' to install the extinguishers to meet the USCG rules, and where/how deep to drill holes in a new boat, and what part of the interior is strong/thick enough to support the weight of the extinguisher when the boat is in rough seas?

I saw that an R-27 owner had installed the extinguisher on the diagonal panel at the port corner where the side meets the aft bulkhead. I checked that location and the teak ply seems to be thin (1/4in) and held in with some kind of glue/caulk. That does not seem to be adequate to hold the weight of an extinguisher.

Question to R-27 owners; Where did you mount the two required fire extinguishers?
 
The "Safety Kit" (fire Ext., life jackets, flares, etc) actually is optional equipment from the factory. Similar to the "optional" factory package I think the they this as optional equipment to give buyers to choice to do their own outfitting. I suspect there is also some customer preference on where the fire estinguishers are kept. The USCG does not specify fire extinguisher mounting requirements.
 
I mounted one of ours in the v-berth on the port side bulkhead wall. The other is mounted just inside the cave next to the cockpit door.
 
Larry H":2gb52ivr said:
Barry,

That is amazing! That a 'fully equipped' boat sold with safety gear requires the new owner to install the extingushers 'somewhere'!

Factory question: How is an owner supposed to know 'where and how' to install the extinguishers to meet the USCG rules, and where/how deep to drill holes in a new boat, and what part of the interior is strong/thick enough to support the weight of the extinguisher when the boat is in rough seas?

I saw that an R-27 owner had installed the extinguisher on the diagonal panel at the port corner where the side meets the aft bulkhead. I checked that location and the teak ply seems to be thin (1/4in) and held in with some kind of glue/caulk. That does not seem to be adequate to hold the weight of an extinguisher.

Question to R-27 owners; Where did you mount the two required fire extinguishers?
Click to expand...

In all fairness to RT, the Fire Extinguishers need not be secured to any surface. The owner can simply place it/them in a suitable stowage area for quick access which is what I did so for several years on my R-25 (Classic). Eventually, I found a convenient place to secure it in the cabin. I attached it to the overhead narrow shelf midship on cabin ceiling. It was rotated sufficiently to allow it's full/empty state to be seen as well as the check date label for USCG inspector. This was then easily accessible for me by reaching up to it without stretching at all. The only real issue with this location is that it's not immediately noticed by others. 🙁
 
Barry,

When I looked at the Kidde Mariner 5 extinguisher on the kIdde website, I found this in the description,
"Coast Guard (U.S.C.G) approved when fitted with supplied mounting bracket"

So now we are getting into semantics. Does this mean that the bracket has to be mounted with the extinguisher in the bracket? Does it mean that if the bracket is secured to the extinguisher, the extinguisher and bracket can be stowed in a locker?

And what will the USCG boarding team decide is correct?

I think I will put one extinguisher on the port cabin wall aft of the widow and forward of the diagonal teak filler. I am considering the suggestion to put the other on the v-berth bulkhead, port side.
 
For what it's worth...at my last USCG inspection my fire extinguishers weren't mounted. The boarding team didn't seem to care as long as they were "fully charged and readily accessable".
I've since made a permanent mount for them.
 
Good quality VHB tape works really, really well too. I have two mounted, one with VHB tape and one I carefully drilled a couple small holes in the fiberglass and then attached the holder with appropriate sized/length s.s. screws. I used some 3M 4200 in and around the holes and it worked perfectly.
 
The one and only time I was boarded by the USCG, they advised that the fire extinguisher had to be mounted per their regulations. I am assuming this is why Kidde website says, "Coast Guard (U.S.C.G) approved when fitted with supplied mounting bracket" per Larry H.

I have a Cutwater 28. I mounted an extinguisher in the hanging locker and a second one just inside and to the left in the cave. I mounted both in the fiberglass as ensuring I wouldn't hit anything on the other side.
 
Mounting is not a requirement per the USCG guide. It is a recommendation.

[https://www.uscgboating.org/images/420.PDF/url] Curt
 
On our R25 Classic our two small (3.9 lbs) Kidde FA110 are mounted vertically -one fore and one aft of the teak spice rack that goes up behind the sink. I used the supplied brackets to mount them. They sit on a rubber pad so as to not scratch the countertop surface. Coast Guard was fine with this (even though they are pretty darn close to one another) when we were inspected in 2016.
San Juan Co Sheriff inspected the boat last week at Stuart Island and said even though we were perfectly legal, that the extinguishers we had were too small to put out anything other than the smallest fire. He recommended at least one 10 pound extinguisher mounted in the cabin where it was very easy to reach but not in the cave or vberth. I am still unsure where such a large extinguisher could be mounted without getting in the way of everyday movement within the cabin.
 
Curt,

I read that too. After some thought, it looks like the extinguisher must be supplied with a mounting bracket and it is 'recommended' that the extinguisher be mounted.

On further consideration, I might mount one of my extinguishers horizontally on the port side shelf up high just inside the entry door. Totally out of the way, easily reachable just inside the door.
 
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