- Joined
- Jul 16, 2002
- RO Number
- 9357
- Messages
- 533
I've always been under the assumption that any device that is going to be used in an engine compartment needs to be ignition protected to prevent fuel vapor explosions. That's how I was raised and something that I have been aware of for my entire life. The other day, a friend and I were talking about keeping the engine room warm during cold weather boating. I told him I had considered buying a Boatsafe engine compartment heater and installing it in my boat, just in case it ever got really cold on us here.
He said all you have to do is put a heat emitting light bulb, like a trouble light, in the engine compartment. I told him that is not safe because of the obvious threat of gasoline vapors in the bilge. He said you can tell if you have any gasoline leaks by sight and smell, and if you know you don't have any leaks, it's safe to do. I told him I didn't think that was safe at all and I would not be doing that, but he insists that it is. Keep in mind his father is a 30 year marine mechanic who owns his own marine sales and service dealership......and my friend said his dad has done that for years in all the boats he's personally owned, never had any problems.
Now, he's a friend of mine, but could he possibly be more wrong!?!?!? I still think anything that is capable of igniting fumes does not have a place in a boat's engine compartment. His rationale is that there is enough air moving through the engine compartment anyway, plus if you know you have no fuel leaks, you're okay to put the light bulb in there.
Obviously he's wrong here, but I am curious if anyone else here does warm their engine compartment / engine room with lights like that?
He said all you have to do is put a heat emitting light bulb, like a trouble light, in the engine compartment. I told him that is not safe because of the obvious threat of gasoline vapors in the bilge. He said you can tell if you have any gasoline leaks by sight and smell, and if you know you don't have any leaks, it's safe to do. I told him I didn't think that was safe at all and I would not be doing that, but he insists that it is. Keep in mind his father is a 30 year marine mechanic who owns his own marine sales and service dealership......and my friend said his dad has done that for years in all the boats he's personally owned, never had any problems.
Now, he's a friend of mine, but could he possibly be more wrong!?!?!? I still think anything that is capable of igniting fumes does not have a place in a boat's engine compartment. His rationale is that there is enough air moving through the engine compartment anyway, plus if you know you have no fuel leaks, you're okay to put the light bulb in there.
Obviously he's wrong here, but I am curious if anyone else here does warm their engine compartment / engine room with lights like that?