Boat explosion in Oakville, Ontario injures 3, police say

Torcan · Post by **Torcan** » Sat Jul 21, 2012 6:15 pm

Police say three people were injured after a boat explosion at the Oakville Power Boat Club.

Oakville police said the call came in at about 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.

ORNGE air ambulance flew a woman in her 50s with multiple fractures to a Hamilton hospital, an ORNGE employee said.

The other two injured people were taken to a local hospital.

The explosion of a power boat at an Oakville marina has resulted in multiple serious injuries.

Halton EMS said two patients were transported to hospital, while Oakville police reported the total number of injured at three.

However, an EMS spokesperson did confirm that a woman in her 50s sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported to a Hamilton hospital by air ambulance. Another patient was taken to an Oakville emergency room in less serious condition.

It is not yet known what triggered the blast.

Emergency crews arrived at the Oakville Harbour located at Lakeshore Rd. E. and Water Sts. Saturday.

My comment:
!! Any guesses as to what triggered the blast? I myself chewed out a fellow dock mate next to my boat for getting in and starting the engine immediately without using his blowers. Thing is, he also has 2 young children with him everytime. Some people are just dumb, careless and scary.

aaronbocknek · Post by **aaronbocknek** » Sat Jul 21, 2012 6:26 pm

was this at the fuel dock? dad NEVER let anyone onboard bubala 3 until all windows were open, blowers on at minimum for 15 minutes, and manually sniffing the bilge. last year some ya hoo tried to rush me off the fuel dock before i was ready as there were other boats waiting to fuel up. personally, i say tough ass. i'm ready when i'm ready and not a minute before. i carry out dads procedure to this day.... all windows and hatches closed as well as the main cabin door. post fueling, open her up, turn on the blowers then do the sniff test. people laugh at me, but hey, at least i'm still here.

k9th · Post by **k9th** » Sat Jul 21, 2012 7:14 pm

Always a bummer to hear about a boat exploding since most of the time it is preventable. Hope they all recover - the boat can be replaced.

aaronbocknek · Post by **aaronbocknek** » Sat Jul 21, 2012 7:15 pm

k9th wrote:Always a bummer to hear about a boat exploding since most of the time it is preventable. Hope they all recover - the boat can be replaced.

+++1 tim

thelast322 · Post by **thelast322** » Sat Jul 21, 2012 10:08 pm

Unfortunatly, a lot of boat owners put on non-ingition protected starters and alternators in engine compartment. A little seepage leaking from a old gasket on the gas tank "level sensor" or non-compliant fuel hoses after filling up and there is a perfect scenario for the explosion to take place. It also seems some people are in a hurry at the fuel dock or they don't believe in running the blower and walaa..... boom

other guesses:

1. leaking gas tanks
2. Leaking propane tanks or a small misplaced lpg bottle leaking
3. failure of a gas line on a hot running engine or generator. I do not know what the status of the vessel.
4. Filling up at the the gas dock and actually putting gas in the bilge because the nozzle is in a fishing rod. "your buddy johny wanted to help out before fishing trip "

5. leaking carburator on a hot valve cover.
6. Having the USCG flame arrestor not in place. That would only probably start a fire more than likely not an explosion.

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Sat Jul 21, 2012 10:27 pm

Changed my opinion.....On reviewing some new pictures it seems they were at the fuel dock.

Always sad to here.....

alexander38 · Post by **alexander38** » Sun Jul 22, 2012 8:57 am

What a shame, I hope they recover and I wish my fellow gas boaters always remember we're on floating bombs unless we follow our check list for pre-trip and post-trip inspections...

I remember making our first long trip with the boat (1st IB) and shutting her down and just a few moments later smelling gas ! upon looking in the engine room found no leaks. Then realized Carb's and the heat, it was boiling the gas off, the blowers now run for at least an hour after a run,

Aaron you Dad is a wise man I'm addin' some to my post gas up list...

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Sun Jul 22, 2012 6:31 pm

Update:
â€œWe had a boat fuelling up, and when it pulled away from the dock it blew up,â€ said Jon Leeson, Commodore of the Oakville Power Boat Club, where the explosion occurred. The people on board â€œgot blown straight out,â€ he said.