Fish South Florida

FLORIDA FISHING LICENSES & REGULATIONS

1.  Whether fishing from boat or land, if you are 16 – 65 years old, you must have a fishing license.

2.  If you’re on a charter boat, the owner of the vessel is required to provide your license.

3.  All boats need to carry life vests for every passenger, and life vests must be easily accessible.

4.   Separate fishing licenses must be obtained for freshwater and saltwater fishing.

5.   Catching alligator gar or grass carp requires a special permit. Length limits apply to many fish.

6.   In freshwater, boats must not carry any saltwater fishing gear.

Both Florida residents and non-residents may purchase fishing licenses, although prices vary depending upon residency status. Floridians can buy one year or five year licenses, while non-residents may obtain yearly, 3-day, or 7-day licenses.

Read Full Florida Regulations for Saltwater fishing.
Read Full Florida Regulations for Freshwater fishing.

You can obtain your fishing license online or by phone at 888-FISH-FLORIDA (888-347-4356)
(surcharges apply for these options).  You can also purchase your license directly from many bait and tackle shops, or marinas.

Use E-Marina to find South Florida marinas that sell fishing licenses.

MORE ON FISHING IN SOUTH FLORIDA
Some people in this region scuba dive from boats to go spearfishing. The South Florida Spearfishing Club promotes and encourages this activity, while they work to protect the underwater environment.  Spearfishing is not allowed in freshwater, and a number of species remain exempt in saltwater.

Not far from Miami, the Biscayne National Park is a desirable location for fishing and marine recreational activities. This south Florida park offers a free “Fisheries Awareness Class”, which helps people learn about fishing techniques and local fishing laws.

There are many excellent opportunities to fish South Florida while enjoying delightful scenery and attractions.  A little preparation before taking off will leave more time to focus on boating and fishing while on your trip!

SOURCES:
1. Britannica Ready Reference (CD-ROM)
2. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
3. Biscayne National Park
4. South Florida Spearfishing Club
5. Key West Chamber of Commerce

Be sure to visit America’s Great Loop Cruiser’s Association!

Though the days of the legendary sailing adventures of Magellan, Columbus and Ponce de Leon may be long past, the mighty lure of the water for many modern day mariners remains strong.  For those who seek their own mythic-like nautical adventures, America’s Great Loop provides a boat enthusiast’s dream come true.

The Great Loop is a continuous waterway encircling the eastern portion of North America. The Loop includes the Atlantic and Gulf Intracoastal Waterways, the Great Lakes, the Canadian Heritage Canals, and the inland rivers of America’s heartland.  Most boating experts believe the Great Loop (also sometimes referred to as the Great Circle Route) to be the safest long distance water route. Those who travel all or even a portion of the incredible Great Loop proclaim it to be the adventure of a lifetime. 

The Great Loop trip is anywhere from 5000 to 7500 miles, depending on whether or not you take advantage of any of the many side trips that comprise the additional distance.  With points as far north as the North Channel in Ontario and as far south as the ICW in Florida, long voyages can span multiple seasons and weather challenges, which knowledgeable Loop travelers typically take into consideration when planning and scheduling their Loop adventure.

The Great Loop is accessible to almost all recreational boats, everything from jet-skis to yachts 45′ and larger.  Some adventurers chose to travel the Loop in segments, while many retiree boaters plan their Loop voyage as their major lifetime water adventure.  In either case, traveling the Great Loop is something to be proud of, and a good story to share when meeting fellow boaters.

For those who may be considering a Great Loop voyage, be sure to research the organization America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association™ (AGLCA).  The AGLCA exists for those boaters who have an interest in traveling the Great Loop and want to know more about it. The association’s primary purpose is to educate those who wish to navigate the Great Loop as well as to enhance the overall experience for those who have already started exploring and cruising America’s Great Loop. 

AGLCA members (known as Loopers) range from novice to experienced Loop travelers. This is a very supportive and active community of boaters; the organization even hosts two annual gatherings for Loopers of all types, typically in Charleston, SC and then another in Joe Wheeler State Park in AL. 

Traditionally those who strive to travel the entirety of the Great Loop do so in one of two ways.  The first is to travel the Loop in segments, stopping and storing the boat until the next time your schedule allows you to return to the water.  The other is to take as much time as possible to make the entire Great Loop trip.  Either way, it’s good to participate in the AGLCA community so that you can stay informed regarding updates and tips on the route, places for docking and repair, and other Loop information.  

Though there may no longer be much by way of unchartered waters for modern day sailors, America’s Great Loop provides its travelers the same spirit of adventure. 

Source: America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association

“Get in the Loop” by visiting
America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association™
at http://www.greatloop.org/

or call 877-GR8-LOOP (877-478-5667), ext. 7104.

* AGLCA Members receive MarineFuel.com Membership discounts and special promotions – Join today to begin your adventure!

When you’re on the water enjoying the day, coming to the disappointing realization that you’ved planned insufficiently for snacks and meals onboard your day trip can be a real mood cruncher.  You don’t have to create masterpiece works of art from fruit and vegetables, but you can certinaly have fun with your food choices & presentation, while maintaining a simple appraoch to meals and snacks onboard your day trip.

Prepare ahead of time onboard snack ideas:
Cold meat and cheeses, to be served with a variety of crackers and whole grain breads

• An array of colorful vegetables and dip
• Fresh fruits with yogurt for dipping or dried fruit
• Spinach dip in a hollowed out bread bowl
• Microwavable popcorn
• Pasta salad or potato salad
• Tortilla chips, shredded cheddar cheese and salsa or tacos in a bag
• Pretzels, Doritos, Pringles, or other potato chips
• Beef jerky
• A selection of granola bars or power bars
• Banana bread
• Shrimp cocktail
• Bagels and smoked salmon
• sushi
• Trail mix, nuts, or party mix
• Muffaletta sandwich or take-out submarine sandwiches
• Wraps such as chicken breast, ham, or marinated grilled beef or pork
• Hummus and pita bread
• On a cold day, hot chocolate and a treat of cookies, muffins, or pastries 

Snacks to prepare while onboard:

• Buy cherry tomatoes or peppadew peppers and stuff with cream cheese just before serving
• Put together an antipasto platter with olives, tuna, pickled onions, artichokes, cauliflower, salami, prosciutto, along with a cracker and bread assortment
• Quick guacamole dip made from avocado, lemon juice, sour cream, to be served with tortilla chips (chopped tomato is optional)
• Sun-dried snacks of tomatoes, cream cheese, and crackers 

Prepare ahead of time meal suggestions for day trips:

• Pasta salad with the addition of pre-cooked chicken breast slices, to be served with buns
• Pork tacos and black bean salsa
• Chicken and asparagus casserole
• Kalamata pork with pita bread and tomato/mozzarella salad
• Sliced pork tenderloin served with grilled chilled asparagus
• Meatloaf, to be served with a salad
• Chilled grilled salmon with salads
• Take-out fried chicken or pizza and assorted salads
• On a cold day, try a chunky gazpacho or hearty chili and an assortment of buns 

Meals to prepare while onboard:

• Hamburgers served with dill pickles and potato chips
• Barbecued catch of the day
• Chicken and vegetable soup
• Anything seafood such as chili lime prawns or scallop linguine
• Lamb cutlets with a strawberry, bean, and feta cheese salad
• Easy omelets 

And, if all else fails, simply find a marina in your area with a restaurant, and leave the preparation and dishes to someone else!  Find Marians with Restaurants or Grocery in your area by searching the E-Marina™ database.

Besides the food itself, ensuring food safety for passengers onboard any recreational boat should be a top priority.  Evolving around food storage, preparation, and cooking, it’s important to check the temperature of your refrigerator, to clean and properly sanitize surfaces, and to be acutely aware of any food allergies guests onboard may have.

Have a reciepe you’d like to share?  Post it here
Earn MarineFuel.com Points toward prizes when you post to the Forum!

Enjoy these links to some of the best onboard snacks and meals for day trips when you’re boating or even when you’re at home.

Sources:
TugBoats Online.com 
Forums Chef2Chef.net
ChowHound.com
SavannahMagazine
Women and Cruising.com – sun-dried snacks
AllRecipes.com – kalamata pork; pork tacos
About.com Camping – Tacos in a Bag
Yacht and Boat.au – chili lime prawns; scallp linguine
Yacht and Boat.au – Lamb cutlets; easy omelets; chicken and vegetable soup

Boat Captain Training Courses in Maryland

By Connie Motz, MarineFuel.com

When you’re looking for boat captain training courses in Maryland, a great resource for information is the marine directory website called CharterNet.com.  From their home page, choose schools and lessons, then on the country of your choice, in this case, the United States followed by Maryland, and you’ll be presented with a concise list of businesses and schools that provide boat captain training courses in Maryland.

A list of training providers for approved National Maritime Center (NMC) courses for all states can also be found on the United States Coast Guard (USCG) website which provides a monthly updated PDF file available for download.

But before we look at individual schools, let’s take a look at the general requirements for taking a boat captain training course in Maryland, or any other state.  An applicant must be at least 18 years of age, must provide detailed information on any past/present DUI/DWI alcohol or drug charges, felony arrest record, use of narcotics, and as to whether or not their driver’s license has ever been revoked or suspended.  Additional requirements for training include a physical examination, drug test, a first aid card/CPR certification, and a Social Security card along with photo identification.  You must also be able to prove that you have operated a vessel for one year with at least 3 months of that in the last 3 years.

The most common boat captain training is for a Charterboat Captain’s License officially known as an Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels (OUPV); the OUPV is sometimes referred to as the 6 Pack License or 6 Passenger license which allows a captain to operate a boat of up to 65’ with a gross limitation of 100 tons.  The OUPV training takes seven full days to complete; this can be followed by a two day upgrade to a Masters License which would then allow a captain to carry more than 6 passengers onboard a ship.

With thirty years of USCG licensing experience, 3B’s Captain School in Westminster, MD, provides a traveling school for those wishing to take boat captain training courses.   Advance registration is required; the tuition for the OUPV course is USD $795 which includes a study guide, all materials, charts and the Coast Guard test.  3B’s Captain School also allows unlimited retakes for a one year period.

Charter Captain Courses of Cambridge, MD, offers the 56-hour OUPV course for a fee of USD $900 with a 90% passing success rate.  A 24-hour upgrade course to the Master 100 Tons is also offered for a fee of $300.  The Community College of Baltimore County also offers OUPV boat captain licensing through day or evening instruction at a cost of $769 which include fees and tuition; Master’s upgrade training is also available for $269.

Choose wisely as some captain training schools, may not include additional fees such the Coast Guard fees of $100 for evaluation along with $45 for license issuance.  Once an OUPV license has been obtained, additional boat captain training courses in Maryland are available for commercial assistance towing, auxiliary sail which allows a captain to operate a sailboat with paying passengers, and a 4-hour course to obtain a marine radio operator’s permit.

Sources:
United States Coast Guard
3B’s Captains School.com
Charter Captain Courses
Community College of Baltimore County
CharterNet.com

By Tim Plaehn, Marinefuel.com News

schooner yacht artists

Avid boaters and sailors often want their art to reflect their sailing passion. The beautiful lines of schooner yachts have inspired many artists through the years and a search for schooner yacht paintings and schooner artists can result in the discovery of some amazing pieces. The search for schooner representations can lead down a couple of paths. Where to view examples from historic schooner artists work and where to get an artistic representation of a beautiful schooner to hang on the wall.

Some of the best places to view older, quality yacht focused art is to visit historic yacht clubs. Many of these clubs were formed when the only way the keep records of the yachts were paintings and drawings. For example, the New York City Yacht club has amassed a collection of over 150 paintings and water colors. The works are displayed in the club’s New York clubhouse and the outpost, Harbor Court in Newport, Rhode Island. Some of the more famous marine artists with works in the collection are British artist Barlow Moore, renowned European artist, Italian Chevalier Edoardo de Martino, Americans James Edward Buttersworth and Frederic Schiller Cozzens. Other artists with paintings hanging in the NYYC are Archibald Cary Smith, who was also a shipwright and yacht designer, Elisha Taylor Baker and Conrad Freitag. If you belong to or have an older yacht club in your local area I would not be surprised of you can find some beautiful yacht works hanging on their walls.

If you want to own some art depicting schooner yachts there are a couple of avenues to search. These are options for those who are not serious art collectors, but want a beautiful and stirring piece to hang on the wall. Online site Fine Art America provides a location for artists to sell both original are reprints of their works. The Schooner Paintings page has a selection of art you can buy or contact an artist to see what other schooner art they may have available. 1st-Art-Gallery.com can provide a hand painted copy of just about any piece of art. You can even select the size for your own piece of schooner painting. On the website, famous marine artist James E. Butterworth has five pages (20 paintings per page) of works listed that copies of which can be purchased through the website.

For the sailing enthusiast, the works of current and historic schooner yacht artists can be compelling. If you want to ferret out local example of these works check out the historic yacht clubs. If you are looking for your own piece of schooner yacht art to hang on the den wall, the Internet provides several resources with a wide range of choices and prices.

Source: Magazine Antiques, July 1999, Fine Art America , 1st Art Gallery

By Tim Plaehn, Marinefuel.com News

houseboat rental

Houseboat rentals are a great idea for  families or groups of friends looking for a getaway vacation. Although there are many boaters who own a houseboat, houseboat renting is an adventure activity enjoyed by millions. If you are contemplating a houseboat rental vacation here are some considerations to consider and a quick listing of some of the most popular houseboating destinations.

A houseboat vacation can include slowly sightseeing around your selected lake or waterway. Anchoring in a cove or on a island and spending time swimming, jet-skiing, BBQing and enjoying a relaxing time with your friends and family. This great type of getaway is a little more about relaxation and having a good time and less focused on driving or navigating a boat. I found one rental company on the Mississippi River that offers dockside houseboat rentals where you can enjoy this laid back lifestyle and never leave the dock!

Although the first step is to pick the location for your houseboat rental, I will discuss some of the ins and outs of houseboats first. Rental houseboats range for 36 ft. models with room for six up to over 70 ft. with accommodations for 12. Amenities can include DVD and CD players, satellite TV and even a hot tub. According to AAA’s Via magazine, houseboat rental can cost from $1,500 to over $6,500 per week. Taxes and the fuel you use will be the major extra charges. Rates are usually highest in the summer and vary by location, size of boat and amenities. Spring and fall rates can be significantly less than peak season and rental companies may through in extras like free jet-ski rental or free gas.

A rental should be fully equipped including kitchen hard goods, linens, safety and boating equipment. The main categories of stuff you need to bring are clothing, food and beverages and sunscreen. Here are a couple of items from a writer’s personal experience I want to pass along:

• Pack lightly: Those new to houseboating bring too much stuff. The houseboat will be well supplied and the renter just needs to bring food, a few clothes and bedding.
• Bring toys: Time on the water is much more fun with a bunch of rafts or inner tubes.
• Bring Ice: There is no such thing as too much ice, and also your favorite beverages.

For a complete listing of what should or may be included in a houseboat rental and what you should consider bringing on your vacation check out this Houseboat Rental FAQs from Houseboat Magazine.

Do not be worried about renting even if you have little or no boating experience. Each year, 25% or more of houseboat rentals are by first-timers. The rental company will provide a one to three hour training cruise to insure you can safely pilot your houseboat.

To get you even more excited about a boat rental vacation, here are some of the most popular locales to try houseboating:

• The Florida Keys
• California: Lake Shasta, Trinity Lakes and the Sacramento River Delta
• Lake Powell, Utah and Lake Mead, Nevada on the Colorado River
• The Mississippi River
• Lake of the Ozarks
• Kentucky Lake

Check them out and enjoy your houseboat vacation!

Sources: Houseboat Magazine, Via Magazine, houseboating.org

By Tim Plaehn, MarineFuel.com News

Marine fresh water pumps come with a wide range of options, but choosing poorly could be a critical mistake.  Fresh water pumps distribute potable(fresh drinkable) water from your onboard water tank(s) to the the various sinks and showers where it is needed. The pump also provides outlet water pressure. If you want to replace or upgrade your marine fresh water pump ,the wide range of options can make selecting the appropriate pump a challenge. When selecting a new or replacement marine fresh water pump, there are a lot of options to consider.

Marine Fresh Water Pumps

Marine fresh water pumps can be of piston or diaphragm design and the goal is to provide smooth, consistent water pressure to the faucets and shower heads. A pneumatic bladder or accumulator tank may be included in the water system to provide instant pressure and even out the water flow.

Selecting a new pump is not an exact science. Start out with the flow rate of the existing pump. Going with a significantly higher flow rate may not neccesarily be the answer. Boat shower heads and faucets are of low flow designs and will give good water pressure on low flow rates. A high flow pump trying to push more water through low-flow fixtures will lead to pipe hammering, excessive pump cycling, pulsating water flows and temperature fluctuations. You can get an indication of the sufficiency of your pump by opening up a couple of faucets to check on how the pump is running. If the pump runs constantly and you do not have much pressure at the faucets, you could step up the pump flow rate. If the pump cycles on and off with several faucets open, the pump is pushing too much water. The goal is to have a pump that provides steady, usable pressure to the faucets without cycling on and off due to back pressure.

Power consumption can be an issue with marine fresh water pump use. Compare the amperage draw charts for the pumps you are considering to see how much power they draw at different water pressure rates. A pump that is cycling  a water flow that is too high is a serious power draw and can also cause other water flow issues. For safety reasons, only Marine UL listed pumps should be considered.  The pump shutoff switch should be protected from the elements.

A more expensive, but in the long term possibly more useful and satisfying, solution is to go with a variable speed drive or VSD pump. VSD pumps provide constant pressure instead of a specific flow rate. A VSD pump provides several benefits:

• Eliminates the need for an accumulator tank.
• Water pressure stays constant as faucets and shower heads are turned on and off.
• Draws low amperage at low flows and speeds up as water demand increases.
• Are self priming and will not be damaged if run dry.

Marine fresh water VSD pumps are available from Jabsco, the “Sensor Max” with a 3.5 gallon per minute flow rate. I also found a VSD pump from Flojet for use in recreational vehicles, but do not know if they are providing a marine rated model.

Sources: Marineengine.com, boatus.com boat tech

By Tim Plaehn, Marinefuel.com News

south florida yacht

South Florida Yacht Scene – One of the Greatest in the World

The south Florida coastal area stretching from West Palm Beach south through Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Miami Beach and into Biscayne Bay is one of the great yachting areas of the world. The south Florida yacht environment includes those who live and own boats there as well as visitors coming in on their own yachts and a thriving yacht charter business environment available to individuals and corporations.

The south Florida yacht scene centers on Fort Lauderdale and Miami/Miami Beach and stretches out from there. The water environment includes open ocean boating, the Intercoastal Waterway, beaches and bays. Excellent year round weather attracts new residents and visitors to south Florida, many who want to take part in the fun of owning or renting a yacht. Sport fishing is also another facet of the areas boating and yachting possibilities.

Those interested in buying an new or used yacht can become overwhelmed by the number of boat dealers and yacht brokers. The Florida Yacht Brokers Association and their website could be a good starting point to find the professional broker to assist in a yacht purchase.

There is no central depository for information on south Florida yacht charters. A google search using the term “south florida yacht charters” returns 305,000 possibilities. The availability of charters runs the gamut from a relatively small power yacht for you and a few friends hitting the Intercoastal for a few hours to sport fishing charters to super yacht charters with full crew, catering and bartender! Finding the right charter company will take some searching and phone calls. Hopefully, the results will be a water borne excursion you will never forget.

The area supports a couple of the largest boat shows going. The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, Palm Beach International Boat Show and the Yacht and Brokerage Show in Miami Beach are a few of the major venues. The boat shows happen late or early in the calender year when things are cold in more northern latitudes so schedule some time at a south Florida yacht show.

My long and winding trip around the Internet researching this article allowed me to stumble on a few websites that are of interest to yachters and south Florida visitors. Super Yacht News is loaded with interesting news clips about super yachts from around the world. Closer to south Florida, this listing of  Florida yacht clubs could be a good place to start for others with the same passion. Finally, I found this page on one of the charter boat service’s website providing a short listing of activities for a yacht charter out of Miami Beach and in the Biscayne Bay area. If these pictures do not get you excited about the possibilities for yachting in the south Florida area, nothing will!

Sources: Marine Industries Association of South Florida, Florida Yacht Brokers Association -good stuff on the Resources page under the Links link.

Zachary Perry, Marinefuel.com News

Boating Catalogs

Boating catalogs offer a convenient way to find boats, engines, accessories, fishing equipment, and other items without using the Internet or visiting a store. Here are some of the boating catalogs you can use to find and order such products…

West Marine: Seller of boats, motors, radios, fishing equipment, and a wide variety of other boating items. They issue a lengthy new boating catalog each year. The catalog is supplied in print or online form. As of February 17th, the 2010 catalog was not yet available.

Cabela’s: Sells fishing and hunting supplies, equipment, and accessories. Cabela’s offers a number of catalogs specialized to various interests, such as fly fishing, tackle, and saltwater fishing. The catalogs are available in many countries.

Defender: Deals in outboard motors, inflatable boats, kayaks, life vests, dock equipment, and other items. You can request their catalog by mail, or download it as a PDF file (this will take about 1-2 hours on dial-up, less on a high-speed connection). The catalog is over 300 pages.

Edson Marine: Offers dinghy accessories, sailboat steering wheels, marine pumps, cockpit tables, and housings for boat electronics, among other equipment. They supply two catalogs; one for sailboats, the other for powerboats. Edson International is based in Massachusetts.

BoatFix: Sells boat parts, electronics, pumps, life vests, and boating accessories. The catalog is available in print or PDF format. BoatFix has a particularly large catalog (800+ pages), but charges three dollars for it. They also have an e-mail list you can sign up for.

Bass Pro Shops: Sells fishing supplies, equipment, and more. Bass Pro Shops will send most of its catalogs to U.S. and Canadian residents for free. They charge a handling fee for some catalogs sent to Canada and all mailed outside North America, but a gift card for the same amount is included.

L.L.Bean: Offers a wide variety of clothing and outdoor products, including canoes, kayaks, fishing equipment, binoculars, weather radios, flashlights, PFDs, and compasses. They have several different free catalogs you can request, including one specific to fishing.

Formula Performance Boats: Sells various motorized boats. It supplies boating catalogs via mail or online download. The catalog comes with a video as well. You can download Formula brochures from previous years on their web site, ranging from 1972 to present. The company is based in Decatur.

Overton’s: Sells boat covers, water skis, life jackets, anchors, GPS equipment, windsocks, outdoor clothing, and more. Boaters around the world can request their boating catalog by completing a short online form. Current Overton’s customers receive the catalog automatically.

Please remember to recycle your boating catalogs when you’re finished using them. The majority of local recycling programs accept catalogs and magazines. You can also pass the catalog on to someone else who is interested in boating.

Most companies will send their catalogs free of charge. You can use the “Sources” links below to request any of the above-mentioned catalogs.

SOURCES:
1. West Marine
2. Cabela’s
3. Defender
4. Edson International
5. BoatFix
6. Bass Pro Shops
7. L.L.Bean
8. Formula
9. Overton’s

Yacht on Fire

Why do yacht propane explosions happen? It may come down to a simple lack of experience on the part of the boat operator.  According to United States Coast Guard (USCG) statistics from 2008, 79% of all boat operators have no formal boating safety instruction.

It has long been known that one of the most dangerous hazards at sea is the potential for fire.  With almost 13 million vessels registered within the United States alone, unfortunately, this very scenario is played out each year when yacht propane explosions occur.

Let’s look at the facts.  According to USCG Recreational Boating Statistics from 2008, the fourth cause of accidents overall were due to operator inexperience.  A total of 429 incidents including 40 deaths and 315 injuries were recorded; even though propane explosions onboard a yacht are rare, 48 accidents and 37 injuries directly resulted due to the ignition of spilled fuel or vapor.

Looking at the statistics as a whole, it is interesting to note that the majority of the occurrences have taken place during a typical boating experience: with good daytime visibility, calm waves of less than 6’, light winds between 0-6 mph, and temperatures of 70-79°F.  The states of Florida, California, and Texas rank as the top three states for accidents and deaths overall.

Further, these unexpected accidents occurred from October to December, between 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on a weekend, with one or two passengers onboard a 26-40’ vessel, where the majority of boat operators are aged 36-55 with 101-500 hours of operator’s experience, again exemplifying a typical boating day.

Commonly used in onboard heating and cooking systems, propane is both inexpensive and efficient, but is also flammable and explosive.  Unlike most gasses, propane does not disperse in the air; heavier than air, propane runs downhill (like water) and will sink to the bottom of a boat, collecting in the bilge.

The USCG and the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) have strict requirements for the “design, construction, installation, and maintenance” of propane systems on boats.  Some of these regulations include the use of only Department of Transportation (DOT) or American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) approved propane cylinders, using a dedicated vapor tight locker for storage, and having a readily accessible propane shut off valve.  All insurance companies will adhere to these requirements when accessing premiums and/or investigating a propane yacht explosion.

The standards go on to require installing a marine quality propane fume detector that will sound an alarm if the gas begins to build up in the bilge.  Making regular rounds of the ship, observing the sights and smells (although propane itself does not smell, it’s additive does), turning off the propane at the tank when not in use, and even shutting off the fuel while a stove burner is still burning to completely empty the supply line can help to prevent a propane accident.

Fire safety plus proper storage, well maintained fuel systems with double shrouded lines, installation of both smoke and heat detectors, and a no smoking rule are all basic factors in preventing yacht propane explosions.  Of course, having a properly trained boat operator and crew including fire and damage control training, is essential.

Statistics have relatively remained the same since 2004, but once again, even though yacht propane explosions are rare, in 2008, there were 136 accidents directly related to fire/explosion of fuel with 1 death and 89 injuries resulting in $4,542,417 in damages.  An additional 25 accidents occurred from fire/explosion of unknown origin with 2 deaths, 10 injuries, and a further $15,980,500 in damage.

Yacht propane explosions can be prevented through proper installation and regularly practiced good safety habits.

Sources:
United States Coast Guard
American Boat and Yacht Council
Boat Owner’s Association of the United States