Page 1 of 1

Automatic Fire Extinguish System

Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2017 11:00 am
by AwayOnBusine$$
Any one replace there old system recently. My 76 F32 probably has the original if not very old system. I have had the boat for 5 years. Don't know much about what is there. It is a Fireboy. For safety sake I think it is time to replace. Toronto Boat Show starts this Friday. Some feedback would help as to what I should and should not be looking for.

Yah and the sniffer does not work either.

Thanks Ken

Re: Automatic Fire Extinguish System

Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2017 9:58 am
by El L Sea
Mine is and 80's vintage Halon. I pulled it and took it to a fire extinguisher shop, where he weighed and checked it. It passed and he said as long as it keeps checking out every year or two, there is no need to replace it. He even said the older ones put out fires better, but the EPA changed their rules for new units.
Fireboy.jpg
Fireboy.jpg (59.26 KiB) Viewed 5677 times

Re: Automatic Fire Extinguish System

Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2017 10:15 am
by Big D
It might help if you let us know exactly which one you currently have. Fully automatic, auto/manual, remote/helm monitoring, etc. As mentioned above, the best thing to do is take it to a shop that can test to see if it is still full but the weight will give you an idea if there is anything in it. If you have a monitor at the helm and it's giving you an alarm, the sensors on the tanks sometimes fail.

Take as much info off the current unit as you can before you head to the show if you're planning on buying one. You'll also need to know the volume of the engine compartment. If the current one was speced properly, it'll lead you to the volume spec you need for the new one.

Re: Automatic Fire Extinguish System

Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2017 10:30 am
by AwayOnBusine$$
There is a monitor at the lower helm for both the Fireboy and the sniffer, neither appear to be working and no monitors at the upper helm. I only drive from the upper helm so i need something up there. Can not get on boat until launch.

Thanks for the info.

Re: Automatic Fire Extinguish System

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2017 10:28 am
by snowman
I have the halon automatic bottles on board, our local experts would not touch them with a ten foot pole LOL Replacements are available but not cheap

http://www.fireboy-xintex.com/marine-fi ... g-systems/

Re: Automatic Fire Extinguish System

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2017 10:43 pm
by comodave
We bought our 41' President in Virginia in September 2015. The halon had not been checked in many years. It is a very large system, I forget right now how big, but the current replacement would cost about $1500+. The surveyor dinged it on not being currently inspected. Due to distance from home, I asked the marina to get it certified by a licensed company. They took it and had it checked, cost me about $60 if I recall. No problem, checked fine. The company had no issue with checking it and signing the tag. As long as it is in good condition, no rust, etc and is the proper weight, it should be fine. If it does discharge, there is no refilling it due to the halon. Then I will have to buy a new one. But if it does go off, replacing it will be one of the least concerns that I will have.

Re: Automatic Fire Extinguish System

Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2017 9:03 am
by larryeddington
Halon is one of if not the best fire fighting equipment you can get. It stops the 4th property of fire the chemical reaction. You can sell the halon on the net. It is so good they did have it on Air Force One.

I would have it checked and re-install.

The other plus is that it does not leave a mess of purple K powder or other residue if used.

And like refrigerant 12 and 22 you can no longer get it due to, ahm, global warming. :?