OK, class today’s multiple choice pop quiz question is this: What is odorless, colorless, and tasteless, and can kill you?

A. World Of Boating

B. Scuba Radio

C. Greg the First Mate

D. Ignorance

   Trick question!

   The correct answer of course isn’t listed but in effect it is “D” 

   Allow me to explain for those of you uninformed about the dangers of “ignorance.”

   Ignorance as defined by M-WOD: : the state or fact of being ignorant: lack of knowledge, education, or awareness.

   In short, ignorance kills and it may have played a part in the deaths of two boaters this past weekend in Volusia County, Fl. I have it on fairly good authority that the cause of death for the two people in question will be CO ( Carbon Monoxide ) poisoning. Reports are that their vessel was equipped with an onboard generator but whether this or the vessel’s engines were the so-called culprits of the CO remains to be seen. There is also the possibility that the CO was emitted by a nearby boat and made its way into the stricken vessel. At this point this is all speculation but what is fact is that if the deaths were caused by CO a very simple device could have prevented this tragedy from occurring.

   Dear readers may I present to you the CO Detector.

                Cost: $116.94

   I can’t tell you how many times I have boarded a customers vessel and noticed that the CO detectors were unplugged, had the fuses removed, or had the circuit breakers disabled and when I would ask why they had done so the response I would usually get is that they were constantly going off and making a horrible screeching noise. So they chose to fix the problem not by investigating why the device is going off  but by disconnecting it? If that indeed is your course of action just make sure you do one thing. Let your remaining family members know if you prefer an open or closed casket.

   If you have spent any amount of time out on the water you may have also seen a proliferation of boats with portable generators strapped down on the swim platforms. Bad, bad, bad, and very dangerous. I give these boats a very wide berth and avoid rafting up anywhere near where they are. Chances are these vessels have not even been equipped with CO detectors and they are drawing fuel from either a portable gas tank or have plumbed a T-fitting into the existing gas feed line.

   Let’s take a few minutes and go over some facts about CO.

   Carbon monoxide or CO, not to be confused with CO2, which is carbon dioxide, is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that weighs just about the same as ordinary air, so it often becomes evenly distributed within the living space of a vessel.

    CO is highly poisonous due to its ability to prevent red blood cells from transporting oxygen to the body’s tissues. It cannot be readily sensed but it can show itself in the form of headaches and flu-like symptoms which can easily be misdiagnosed or ignored, to convulsions and unconsciousness, which if it has progressed to this point it’s often too late to take action.

   Several hundred people die per year as a result of CO poisoning in the United States alone, some of which are nearly always aboard recreational or commercial vessels. Because of the airtight nature of boats and the near universal presence of CO producing devices,i.e, stoves, heaters, engines and generators, the occupants of these vessels are at an increased risk for CO poisoning.

   CO is a product of  incomplete combustion of carbon-containing fuels. Gasoline engines produce CO. The less efficiently they are operating, the more CO they produce. Engines in poor tune or those that are inefficiently loaded produce more CO. Annual maintenance anyone?

   Diesel engines produce CO although in far less quantities than gasoline engines. The rate of CO poisoning from diesel engines may be low but they still should be considered sources of lethal amounts of CO. Regardless of CO content, inhalation of diesel fumes in sufficient quantity can be harmful and even lethal. Diesel exhaust contains about 0.5% CO, compared with a non-catalyst equipped gasoline engine’s 7-11% CO. 

   If you suspect you, a passenger, or someone you encounter is suffering from CO poisoning, the treatment is moving immediately to fresh air and then administration of 100% oxygen. The best solution to CO poisoning, however, is prevention, don’t let it happen to you or your passengers.  CO detectors are readily available and should be installed aboard every boat, in every accommodation space especially the sleeping quarters. 

    CO detectors do need to be replaced somewhere between 3 and 5 years after their initial installation. Some can be returned to the manufacturer to be “refurbed” while others will need to be replaced. If you don’t know how old the one in your boat is replace it, they are fairly inexpensive especially when compared to the cost of a funeral.

   Opt for the CO detector that is wired into the vessels 12v system. The ones that rely on you to install the batteries may be cheaper and easier to install but ask yourself this: When was the last time or how often do you check/change out the batteries in the smoke detector(s) in your house?

   Have a qualified service center install the CO detectors but keep in mind that it is your responsibility to check, maintain, and monitor the detection system.

   For those of you that like to run your boat with all the canvas up ,especially the aft curtain, be aware that boats are subject to the “station wagon effect”……..just Google it, OK?

   Did you know that CO can enter your boat through your sink thru-hull drains? Your drain hoses for your sinks should have a droop or trap in them so that  the “trapped”drain water is acting as a barrier.

    Greg and Bill always end the show with, “Whether sail or motor, life is better as a boater.”  True but it’s even better when you are knowledgeable, informed, and are able to return to your homeport safe and dry.

   Capt. Patrick

If you’ve stumbled this far you are neck deep in another one of Capt. Patrick’s “Hidden In Plain Sight” bonus features. I’m feeling a two-fer since it’s Tuesday so how about an audio clip and an in-studio video?

  Listen in as Bill, Swabby Bob and I interview Capt Keith and the “Barfball” ——>  Barfball

 Watch as ”Greg and Bill Go Fishing For Marlin”——>  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQ-g_m-rzgY