Of all of the fire prevention measures available to boaters, the most powerful is probably the olfactory systems of captain, crew and passengers.
In the wake of two Fort Lauderdale area boat explosions within days of each other this week, the causes invariably were linked to vapors lingering in and around the large gasoline-powered vessels that were destroyed, authorities said.
“It’s usually the result of fuel vapors accumulating somewhere,” said Ted Sensenbrenner, director of boating safety at the BoatUS Foundation, a national nonprofit based in Virginia.
The South Florida Sun Sentinel spoke with Sensenbrenner on Thursday about what boaters can do to mitigate the potential for explosions that can shatter a recreational vessel within seconds. Between the Memorial Day weekend and Wednesday, two vessels were destroyed by onboard explosions — one at the beach and the other on the Intracoastal Waterway in Fort Lauderdale.
Between the two incidents, more than a dozen people were hospitalized, many with severe burns.
“If you smell gasoline, there is probably a problem,” Sensenbrenner said. “Any boater can do the sniff test.”
“If you are down below and fueling is over and you’re still smelling fuel, something is amiss. Your go-to should be a blower,” he said. “You shouldn’t start a boat if vapors exist.”
“Yachts should be vented,” he added. “Batteries can have fumes that are a potential for danger as well. That can make you sick. Battery compartments should be vented; fuel tanks and fuel systems should be vented.”
Some fueling basics
“Our No. 1 rule for refueling is to remove all of the passengers who don’t need to be part of a fueling operation,” Sensenbrenner said.
Other measures:
- Shut off the engine as well as electronic devices, including appliances.
- Extinguish smoking materials. No smoking allowed.
- Keep a fire extinguisher nearby.
- Ensure the nozzle is entered in the proper fill pipe for gasoline.
- While at the pump, remain with the nozzle. “We don’t want people to put a clicker on and walk away from it. Most marinas have disabled that hands-free device. They want to make sure you are not creating a spill and having an environmental issue as well as a safety issue.”
- Reduce the potential for sparks. Even shuffling your feet across a carpeted deck can build up static electricity.
- After fueling is completed, wipe up any spills. If using an absorbent pad, wipe down the affected surface, and hand off the smelly pad to a dock attendant. Don’t keep it on board.
- Run a blower to remove any fumes from closed or tight spaces. “Give it at least four minutes.” Make sure the blower is sending any fumes into the open air where they can dissipate, and not circulating around the boat.
- Run a sniff test. Does everything smell all right?
“This shouldn’t be a white-knuckle experience,” he said. “Turn on your blower. Sniff for fumes and go about your day.”
Things to routinely check
Periodically, owners should inspect the fuel hoses that are connected to engine components, including clamps. They need to be tight “so we don’t have leaking vapors or the leaking of fuel itself,” Sensenbrenner said.
“Having all of your fuel components in good condition is paramount for fuel safety,” he said. “The fuel hose should be U.S. Coast Guard rated. They should not be cracked, split or otherwise compromised. You can do a visual inspection to see if it’s cracking. See if it leaves a residue on your hand. That’s indicative of a fuel line deteriorating on the surface.”
Generally speaking, an explosion can occur at any time,
“The warning sign would be the smell,” Sensenbrenner said. “Other than that, it can happen very quickly. It doesn’t start with a little bit of smoke and a little bit of fire. It can happen during fueling, it can happen after fueling, and there is usually no warning sign other than the vapors.”
Owners can purchase fume detectors. And onboard fire extinguishers should be kept within reach and up to date.
The BoatUS Foundation offers online safety courses that advise people how to safely fuel their boats. The content can be accessed by visiting boatus.org.
“Our mission is to reduce boating accidents and fatalities,” Sensenbrenner said. “We want people to be clean and safe on the water. We want people to come back home.”
Past local incidents
- December 2024: An explosion at the Lauderdale Marina killed a Quebec resident after he was thrown from a 37-foot vessel. Six others were injured.
- October 2024: A 50-foot boat exploded while being fueled at a Dania Beach marina, killing one man and critically injuring four others. The blast was powerful enough for it to be heard at the Rustic Inn Crabhouse across a canal from the marina.
- October 2021: Six women suffered burns after a boat they were boarding exploded in Dania Beach. Fire rescue officials said the cause was a vapor explosion when the vessel was started after refueling.
- October 2020: At least 13 people out of nearly two dozen aboard a 41-foot pleasure boat on the New River suffered burns after the vessel caught fire.