Why are there so many requirements for fuel, electrical and ventilation on boats?
History and accident investigations have shown that one of the most devastating and damaging accidents that can happen on a boat is a an explosion or fire. There is simply no where for you to go and it usually happens so fast, there is no reaction that can be made to prevent much of the damage and injuries that occur. So, over the years safety standards have been developed to prevent this. Fires and explosions require three conditions before they can occur. This is called the fire triangle and has been around for many, many years. It is, oxygen, a source of ignition, and fuel. On boats the oxygen obviously is present, the source of ignition is usually the boats electrical system, and the fuel is generally gasoline. Do not be fooled though. Even though diesel is much less volatile than gasoline and fires occur much less frequently, diesel powered boats need to follow the same rules. So, if one side of the fire triangle can be eliminated, then the explosion and fire can be prevented. Eac
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