Fire

Fire Fighting

Remove one of the following:

fuel – turn off the gas or petrol supply, or remove combustible material;
heat – by applying cold water;
oxygen – smother the fire with CO2, dry powder, or foam or cover with a fire blanket. When using an extinguisher, aim at the base of the fire while keeping low.

Prevention of Fires

NEVER smoke while refuelling!

Ventilate the boat thoroughly after refuelling;
remove all rags and materials which have inflammable products on them;
maintain the electrical systems on your boat to prevent shortouts and sparks;
Fit a smoke detector in the cabin.

Extinguishers

There are different types of fire extinguisher, each suited to a particular type of fire. A dry powder extinguisher is a good general purpose type which will work well on most fires. It needs to be shaken occasionally to prevent the powder compacting;

fire extinguishers should be kept outside the engine space in places where they can be reached from the open deck or cockpit after the fire starts;
ensure all on board know where the extinguishers are stowed and how to  use them;
Have your fire extinguisher serviced regularly;
under no circumstances should water be used on fuel or electric fires.