This article is one in a series offering tips on boating skills and seamanship prepared for The Citizen by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
As the weather becomes chilly, the incidents of carbon monoxide poisoning tend to increase. To keep their cabin warm, some may be tempted to fire up their engine, close all hatches and ... risk CO poisoning. A few safety precautions are recommended, but first let's describe carbon monoxide.
Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas that is produced when any carbon based fuel is burned. As a result of CO concentrations in the air, early symptoms include drowsiness, headaches, nausea, dizziness, irritated eyes and weakness. These early symptoms are often confused with sea sickness, but with extremely high concentrations or prolonged durations of exposure the result can be death.
On a boat there are numerous sources of CO, such as a gasoline engine, gasoline generator, propane and charcoal. These are fuels that we depend on to get us to and from our destination, keep us cool, provide electricity and heat or cool our food.
CO becomes dangerous when it collects within and around a boat. CO can enter a cabin of a boat from different sources including: hot water heaters, galley stoves, improper ventilation while in motion (the “station wagon effect”) and exhaust leaks in your boat as well as from moored boats nearby. CO can collect in areas around a boat such as: near the swim platform, which is generally found close to the engine exhaust, and areas where boat overhangs can create pockets of air.
Teak surfing or dragging is a new activity where a swimmer holds on to the swim platform while the boat drags them through the water. This new fad puts swimmers in direct proximity to extremely high concentrations of CO as well as a moving propeller, according to the National Safe Boating Council.
Here are some simple precautions that can be taken to avoid exposure to CO:
€ Avoid known locations where the gas can be present
€ Have regular maintenance done on your engine and exhaust system by a trained technician
€ Install a CO detector in the cabin of a boat
€ Be aware that CO can accumulate when a boat is running its engine or generator while at a dock or seawall
Carbon monoxide
poisoning
€ Open hatches and keep fresh air circulating throughout the boat to avoid exhaust fumes from reentering the aft part of the boat - the station wagon effect
€ Turn off the engine or generator when people swim near the boat; take your passengers water skiing instead of teak surfing
€ Be aware that if a passenger has the symptoms of seasickness it could be CO poisoning, and they should immediately be moved to fresh air
€ Get a vessel safety check
John E. Keshishoglou is the vice
commander of the Ithaca Flotilla 22
Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas that is produced when any carbon based fuel is burned. As a result of CO concentrations in the air, early symptoms include drowsiness, headaches, nausea, dizziness, irritated eyes and weakness. These early symptoms are often confused with sea sickness, but with extremely high concentrations or prolonged durations of exposure the result can be death.
On a boat there are numerous sources of CO, such as a gasoline engine, gasoline generator, propane and charcoal. These are fuels that we depend on to get us to and from our destination, keep us cool, provide electricity and heat or cool our food.
CO becomes dangerous when it collects within and around a boat. CO can enter a cabin of a boat from different sources including: hot water heaters, galley stoves, improper ventilation while in motion (the “station wagon effect”) and exhaust leaks in your boat as well as from moored boats nearby. CO can collect in areas around a boat such as: near the swim platform, which is generally found close to the engine exhaust, and areas where boat overhangs can create pockets of air.
Teak surfing or dragging is a new activity where a swimmer holds on to the swim platform while the boat drags them through the water. This new fad puts swimmers in direct proximity to extremely high concentrations of CO as well as a moving propeller, according to the National Safe Boating Council.
Here are some simple precautions that can be taken to avoid exposure to CO:
€ Avoid known locations where the gas can be present
€ Have regular maintenance done on your engine and exhaust system by a trained technician
€ Install a CO detector in the cabin of a boat
€ Be aware that CO can accumulate when a boat is running its engine or generator while at a dock or seawall
Carbon monoxide
poisoning
€ Open hatches and keep fresh air circulating throughout the boat to avoid exhaust fumes from reentering the aft part of the boat - the station wagon effect
€ Turn off the engine or generator when people swim near the boat; take your passengers water skiing instead of teak surfing
€ Be aware that if a passenger has the symptoms of seasickness it could be CO poisoning, and they should immediately be moved to fresh air
€ Get a vessel safety check
John E. Keshishoglou is the vice
commander of the Ithaca Flotilla 22