White vs Red fire extinguisher

[4/0]

Hi all,

came over from th a t place, this might be a dumb question but I would like to find out now rather than later, is the fire extinguisher required to be the white one ? or can it be the red one ?

I need to replace the two on the boat (5 years old ) and I have two large Red ones that just came off a job I finished they have the hose attached about 12" long. The only difference I can see is BC or ABC, would the Coast Guard care ?

The boat is a 19' cc w/ a 65 gal. tank.

Thanks

Butch

[Boz]

The color really doesn't matter. What DOES matter is the ABC vs BC designations. On the boat, you really should have the ones designated ABC, even though the CG only requires Type B, and they must be labeled "Coast Guard Approved" or very similar wording. An ABC will be effective against almost anything that you might encounter in a boat fire.

Type A is for combustible materials, such as paper, wood, plastic, cloth, etc.

Type B is for combustible liquids, such as gasoline, oil, alcohol, etc.

Type C is for electrical fires.

For more info, see http://www.boatus.com/boattech/firex.htm

[4/0]

Boz,

Thanks, I am hoping to save a few bucks and use these units that just came off of the job I will put my glasses on and read the fine print on them to look for the CG. app.

Thanks,

Butch

[DDHand]

I keep the red ones on my boat (same issue -- thats the kind we use at work). I have been checked several times and they just look to make sure its fully charged.

SCDNR not coast guard checks.

[Capt Rick Hiott]

And dont forget the Class D fire extinguishers. (Sodium Chloride powder)

There for fires that involve combustible metals, such as magnesium and titanium.

You wanna see something pretty,,,put water on an old Volkswagon engine while its on fire,,,,,Its pretty cool! Makes all kinds of colors...............

[4/0]

Thanks to all, I feel good with these red ones now, you just keep hearing these terrible storys and is almost always my son and I, well you get it.

Thanks Butch

[auguste]

Good info . . . thanks everyone