Evening star., 1940-04-28
Explosions
Avoidedby
Equipment
Education Starts
In New Campaign
Under Bureau
BY William J. Wheafley.

ny ~ lIfQm j. ~ heQHeD.
She was as pretty a motor yacht
as you ever saw, in her cleaning
white hull and buff superstructure,
gliding down the Chesapeake Bay
on CLASSY. unruff1ed surface. From
within her cabin and wheelhouse
came the voices and laughter of a
party enjoying the life on the water
and looking forward to voyage of
pleasure as the sun moved higher
in the heavens. Her motor was pur-
ring rhymthically, as it should, for
she was just off the marine rail-
way and on her maiden voyage.
Then the motor suddenly stopped.
Willing helpers promptly turned
to the engine compartment, and
after preliminary examination it
was found that her gas line was
stopped up. The gas line was "bro-
KEN in an effort to clear the STOP
page, and a little stream of the vital
fluid dripped down into the bottom
or bilges. The line was cleared. It
was connected, and then, without
thinking, the mechanic laid a
wrench down without looking, and
certainly without thinking, on an
electric storage battery. There was a
sputter of sparks as the short cir
cult was made, burst of flame and
a loud explosion, when all hands
dived for the water, as what was
once a fine motor cruiser went up
In flame and smoke.
All suffered severe burns, with
days in the hospital, ending what
started out to be a cruise of joy.
Fortunately, there was no loss of life
in this case, but every summer
throughout the United States there
are lives lost by just such care
lessness. for Comdr. Richard S.
Field, U. S. Navy, retired, director
of the United States Bureau of Ma
rine Inspection and Navigation, says
that more lives are lost by fire or
gasoline explosion upon motor boats
each year than are similarly lost on
our entire merchant marine and
Navy combined"
Llmlteu inspections.
Right at this season of the year
thousands of motor-boat owners are
painting their vessels, trimming
them up for appearances, to make
them attractive while on the bays,
rivers and inlets in this vicinity and
throughout the United States. Some
of them are taking those precau-
tions against fires and explosions
which will mark the difference be-
tween a day of pleasure and trag-
edy for them and their friends. The
law requires certain things to be
done, but the Government has not
undertaken complete inspection of
motor boats for several reasons. One
Is that it does not want to be con-
tinuously harassing owners and op-
orators by frequent inspections to
guard their lives, and furthermore
to provide an inspection force dur
ing the open season of the year
would require small army Of men
for inspectors.
But it does inspect these motor
craft for life preservers, fire ex-
tinguishers, lights, fog horns and
whistles. It does not inspect to
see that precautions are taken
against fire and gasoline explosions,
the equipment of boats with little
appliances which would prevent
these explosions, and most of them
cost only few cents. Whereas an
explosion which many times can be
blamed on the lack of them may cost
thousands of dollars in the COM
plete destruction of the vessel, to say
nothing of the loss of life and maim-
ing.
But Comdr. Field has concerned
himself about these annual losses
of life and property, and this year
has taken steps to do something
about it. 1t does not consist of a
campaign of harassment of inspec-
ton by Government officials, but
rather a campaign of education.
Lists to Check.
Believing the many motorboat op-
orators do not understand the dan
ger lurking in the fuel which they
have aboard for propulsion, he has
had prepared list of things to be
done, so that the owner may check
his own boat, provide safety for
himself and his guest. After check
Ing the list the owner may post it
for the observation of his guests,
but If he prefers not to do that, the
bureau Is providing a certificate
which may be framed and posted
In a conspicuous place on the vessel.
It is titled, Safe Operation Certif1-
cate" It reads:
ITO my guests, law-enforcement
officers and others concerned: AS
owner of the motorboat (space for