IIRC, the Tartan 37 has a hatch just forward of the companionway that could be
left open in moderate conditions.


Yup. My C&C's forward hatch will catch a sheet, but a smaller hatch over the
main cabin is often left open with no problem.

RB

don't most cruising boats have vents. I have 2 cowl vents.

Cowl vents probably wouldn't do well at feeding a fire, but that's a good
point. I was also thinking of the vents for the engine. Some T37's have
replaced the dorades with Nicro vents as well.
As I said, closing the hatch MIGHT snuff the fire. At the very least it would
buy you time and that's the whole point if you can't fight the fire properly.
Leaving the companionway hatch open will just hasten the flames.

RB

It may just work....but I'd be looking real hard for another way out.
Even to the point or partially sinking the boat to get water above the
sole to toss on the fire, remembering that you are alone, stupid
enough to only have one fire extinguisher, no fire blanket, no bucket,
no dinghy or raft, and have left a fuel fire un attended.


I like the idea of partially sinking the boat. The "stupid" elements were part
of the question, which obviously dazzled poor Donal.

RB

ok, let's assume you closed the hatch. Now what?

SV

"Bobsprit" wrote in message
...
don't most cruising boats have vents. I have 2 cowl vents.

Cowl vents probably wouldn't do well at feeding a fire, but that's a good
point. I was also thinking of the vents for the engine. Some T37's have
replaced the dorades with Nicro vents as well.
As I said, closing the hatch MIGHT snuff the fire. At the very least it
would
buy you time and that's the whole point if you can't fight the fire
properly.
Leaving the companionway hatch open will just hasten the flames.

RB

OzOne wrote in message ...
On 17 Jun 2004 23:55:15 GMT, (Bobsprit) scribbled
thusly:

That means
hatches were probably dogged.

Hatches are always sealed when a sailing boat is underway.



Oh boy...um......BWAHAHAHAHAHA!


RB

So you pride yourself on your safety measures yet leave hatches open
while sailing?
Silly boy, it'll bite you one day.

This depends a lot on the boat. Claiming that one rule applies to all boats and
all situations doesn't indicate much experience on your part.

On the other hand, I think everyone gets bit by this one at least once. On my
boat the forward hatches are at severe risk of being flooded because its
possible for a wake to wash up on the foredeck - not often, but enough that the
hatches must be dogged when underway. The saloon hatches, however, have only
seen water once - and that was diving through an 8 foot square wave caused by 25
knots of wind against a 5 knot current at the exit of a canal. This was a very
predictable event, for which we had plenty of notice. (It still scared the crap
out of my wife when she saw the ocean over here head!) Also, I have two aft
hatches facing aft. I can't imaging a case where they would be flooded. One of
them, in the shower, hasn't been sealed in all the time I've had the boat.

BTW, here's a Tartan 37 - note the forward hatch wide open, and the aft hatch
seems to be open facing aft.
http://www.mindspring.com/~sailing_fool/280G.JPG

On 17 Jun 2004 10:42:57 GMT, (Bobsprit) wrote this
crap:


The clue, of course, was it was raining when the fire started. That means
hatches were probably dogged. Sealing up the companionway may limit oxygen
levels enough to snuff the fire. The Tartan 37 cabin volume is quite moderate.
Binary Bill's answer is essentially correct. Of course, there is no guarantee
that this will work. The fire may continue long enough to sink the boat by
melting seacock hoses open underway.

You couldn't put out the fire with your whisker pole?





Pathetic Earthlings! No one can save you now!

On 17 Jun 2004 15:09:05 GMT, (Bobspirt) wrote this
crap:

Gosh, now I am nervous. I sure hope no one sues me for giving such incorrect,
dangerous advice in an authoritative manner. Hopefully, anyone reading this
has read my other posts and realizes what a dolt I am when it comes to sailing.

We've already found that out.




Pathetic Earthlings! No one can save you now!

On Thu, 17 Jun 2004 18:53:45 -0400, "Jeff Morris"
wrote this crap:

"Donal" wrote in message
...
...

That means
hatches were probably dogged.

Hatches are always sealed when a sailing boat is underway.


Wow, your crew must suffer on a hot day. There are lots of boats, and lots of
situations where its desirable and permissible to make way with a hatch open. I
would say that 90% of the time we have a saloon hatch open underway, weather
permitting. Three of our hatches (2 in the galley, one in the head) have been
cracked open for all but a few hours in the last 5 years.


I keep my hatches open so my beer don't get too warm.




Pathetic Earthlings! No one can save you now!

"Jeff Morris" wrote

This depends a lot on the boat.


and where you are sailing.


On the other hand, I think everyone gets bit by this one at least once.
On my
boat the forward hatches are at severe risk of being flooded because its
possible for a wake to wash up on the foredeck - not often, but enough
that the
hatches must be dogged when underway. The saloon hatches, however, have
only
seen water once - and that was diving through an 8 foot square wave caused
by 25
knots of wind against a 5 knot current at the exit of a canal.

Cape Cod Canal I presume? Cool place.

We took a wave over the bow of the Mac with the forward hatch open, soaked
the v-berth. Learned my lesson.


--
Scotty
S/V Lisa Marie
Balt. MD USA

On 18 Jun 2004 00:00:22 GMT, (Bobsprit) wrote this
crap:

IIRC, the Tartan 37 has a hatch just forward of the companionway that could be
left open in moderate conditions.


Yup. My C&C's forward hatch will catch a sheet, but a smaller hatch over the
main cabin is often left open with no problem.

RB


I just have to make sure my winecellar door is shut.





Pathetic Earthlings! No one can save you now!