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Electrical Fire could have burned my boat down!

Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 12:14 pm
by Capt. Bondo

Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 1:15 pm
by cs3079
Glad your safe and sound Capn. B. Wow, that sounds like you had all three on the line there: life, limb.. and sailboat! We all have to remember the order of importance. I guess the big guy's telling you it's the end of the season, loud and clear.

You definitely made a point with me though. I've been lucky several times already myself. One time, while trying to make haste and improve my setup time, I forgot to place a cotter pin in the front stay shakle. I discovered it as I was attaching the genoa while out on the water (another thing I no longer do). I almost pooped my pants when I saw that!:shock: I hastily had a crew member throw me a pin from the toolbox. Now I do a 360 and double check everything before dropping the Lollipop into the water.

I guess the moral of these stories are...Live and Learn and Learn and Live. Good story and happy ending too!

Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 2:57 pm
by lecker68
Glad everything is ok and your lesson from this is you made yourself some more work but at least you are ok and a Chrysler was saved.

Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 3:00 pm
by CaptainScott
WOW!
One lucky day!
I'm sure glad the fuel locker was vented properly or we may have read a totally different story!

Glad all is well. Sorry about the fingers and burned wires but consiedering you are a very lucky sailor!


Scott

Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 7:04 pm
by Paul
Wow, Capt Bondo! It was a scary Happy Place. Know the adreneline makes this all happen in a flash while at the same time it seems like it's taking forever to get it all accomplished. I'm so glad you and your boat will both be OK!

Paul

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 6:18 am
by EmergencyExit
I had a similar experience on EE - was hooking up the remote controls and somehow the cable jumped inside the outboard case and the metal end got between the hot side of the outboard's manual start button and the case. While my back was turned, of course...sure does make life interesting when those moments happen... :roll:

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 7:22 am
by hp18carr
Capt Bondo's story has me a bit paranoid... glad to hear there was little damage and no hospital visit. At some point I will need to completely rewire my C26. Doing this from scratch on my own will save me some bucks, but would it be better as far as a safety factor to spend the extra bucks on a prefabricated wiring harness?

Terrence
Wilmington N.C.
Chrysler 26' 1980
Pandora (for now)

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 10:43 am
by Alanhod
Good to hear you and your boat are okay. Sure your a bit singed and you've got some wiring to do on the boat but all in all it was a good day. I'm betting the rewire will be even better then before. I know I'm looking forward to the before and after photo's of your solution to the issue.

Thanks for the report and I know I'll be doing a double take next time I'm on board at my wiring.

Thanks
Alan

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 11:39 am
by mcrandall
Fuses. That's why God invented them.

Granted, they may not have helped in Capt B's situation, but they will for day to day apps.

Covering any exposed hot terminal, especially at the battery is smart.

Covered battery terminals to guard against accidental shorting is a requirement during Vessel Inspections.