Silverton 33C, Owner'S Manual

Page: 56 / 210

SAFETY-12
shows the sequence of events that must be done in
an effort to revive a CO victim:
Evacuate, Ventilate, Investigate, Take Correc-
tive Action
Move the person to fresh air
Administer oxygen if available
Contact medical help
If the victim is not breathing, perform arti fi cial
respiration per approved CPR procedures until
medical help arrives and takes over. Prompt
action can make the difference between life
and death.
Ventilate area
Investigate the source of CO and take corrective
actions.
HOW DOES CARBON MONOXIDE ENTER
YOUR BOAT?
Any device that burns fuel creates carbon monoxide.
For example, a propane cooktop or a space heater
are both potential sources for CO. But the most se-
rious danger comes from the gasoline engines and
generators aboard your own and neighboring boats.
There are four basic ways that CO from a running
engine or generator can enter your boat:
The “station wagon effect” results from the aerody-
namics of deck cabins and
fl ying bridges. With the
boat under way, the air fl ow over the top forms a low
pressure area behind the cabin or transom which can
suck exhaust gasses into the cockpit and the cabin.
Inef
fi cient trim angles also can cause the station
wagon effect.
Obstructions are principally a problem when boats are
rafted together or tied to a dock or seawall. Against an
obstruction, exhaust gasses which normally dissipate
may instead be directed back to your boat. Beware
of open windows, hatches, doors and the location of
the engine intake. Exhaust contains particularly high
concentrations of CO when an engine is cold; so to
protect yourself and your neighbors, minimize the
time spent getting underway. Pay particular attention
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to potential obstructions when running a generator
for long periods.
In fi ltration of CO from a neighbor’s exhaust can be
a problem aboard any boat at any time. In fi ltration
can happen any time your neighbors are running
a generator or engine, even when they are many
slips away.
Leaks in your own exhaust system from the engines
or generator can allow harmful levels of CO to ac-
cumulate at a surprising rate. Good maintenance
practices are critical to avoid this.
There are many variables that combine to affect the
accumulation of carbon monoxide. Some of these
variables are; the presence of weather enclosures
and covers, boat layout and con
fi guration, location
of ports, hatches, windows, doors, and vents, prox-
imity and types of structures and other boats, wind
speed and direction, speed of the boat, etc. Although
it would be impossible to identify every variable or
combination of variables that may affect the ac-
cumulation of carbon monoxide, the boat operator
must remain aware at all times of the possibility of
CO accumulation.
The following illustrations show some of the ways
that carbon monoxide gas can accumulate in your
boat while at dock and underway. Become familiar
with these examples to prevent exposure to this
poisonous gas.
Blocked hull exhaust outlets near a pier, dock,
seawall, bulkhead, or any other structure can
cause excessive accumulation of Carbon Mon-
oxide Gas (CO) within the cabin areas of your
yacht. Be certain hull exhaust outlets are not
blocked in any way.
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