Fire safety and extinguishers on board
Choosing extinguishers, engine bay protection, a fire blanket and how to react to a fire on board.
A fire on board is particularly dangerous, because escape routes are limited and fuel, gas and the electrical installation create a real risk. Prevention starts with recognising the hazards: the galley (gas, oils), the engine bay (fuel, wiring), the electrical installation (short circuits, overloaded batteries) and heating appliances. Two pillars matter: prevention (correct installations, ventilation, maintenance) and readiness to fight a fire (the right extinguishers within arm's reach and a trained crew).
Fires are classified by the burning material, which determines the extinguishing agent. Class A is solids (wood, upholstery), class B flammable liquids (fuel, oils), class C gases, while fires in live electrical equipment and fat fires in the galley (class F) are treated separately. The most common extinguishers on yachts are ABC powder ones — universal, but the powder heavily contaminates the interior and the electronics. The alternatives are clean agent extinguishers, which leave no residue, and CO2 for electrical equipment.
The number and placement of extinguishers is matched to the size and layout of the yacht, so that in every area (galley, saloon, cabins, cockpit/wheelhouse) an extinguisher is within reach without entering the danger zone. The minimum is an extinguisher by the companionway, near the galley and by the helm, plus protection of the engine bay. Mount extinguishers in brackets, in visible and accessible places; do not bury them deep in lockers. Follow the requirements of your flag state and classification rules and the relevant standards (ISO 9094 for small craft, for example).
The engine bay needs its own approach, because opening the hatch during a fire feeds it oxygen and makes it worse. Fixed extinguishing systems are used here (automatic, thermally triggered) or extinguishers with a nozzle for discharging through a small service port without opening the whole compartment. The extinguishing agent in the engine bay should be clean (gaseous), so that it does not destroy the engine and its equipment. After the system discharges, do not open the compartment straight away — wait for it to cool, to avoid re-ignition.
In the galley a fire blanket within reach is compulsory, but NOT behind the cooker — it must be reachable without reaching over the flame. A blanket smothers small fat and clothing fires very well; never put water on burning fat, as it throws the burning oil out violently. Make the gas installation safe: an easily reachable shut-off valve, the cylinder in a ventilated, self-draining gas locker and a gas detector (LPG is heavier than air and collects in the bilge). Always close the cylinder valve after cooking.
Early detection saves lives, so fit smoke detectors in the cabins and a carbon monoxide (CO) detector wherever combustion appliances run (heating, engine) — CO is odourless and lethal. Check the batteries and the detectors regularly. React to a simple plan: alert the crew, shut off fuel/gas and power if you can, position the boat so the fire blows downwind of people, and attack the base of the flame. If the fire gets out of control — call for help and prepare to abandon ship, with the liferaft and safety equipment ready.
Extinguishers need maintenance: check the pressure on the gauge, the seal and the service date, and periodically shake or invert powder ones so the powder does not cake. Extinguishers have a defined service life and are subject to periodic inspection by an approved service — an out-of-date or discharged extinguisher is useless. Train the crew: everyone should know where the extinguishers and the blanket are and how to use them (break the seal, pull the pin, aim at the base of the fire). Makers such as Plastimo and Fireboy-Xintex publish guidance on choosing fire equipment for yachts.
Material prices — products and options
Indicative prices in EUR (incl. VAT), as of July 2026. Products widely available in Europe; prices depend on the shop, the pack size and consumption. The links lead to example shops that ship across the EU. Dollar amounts are converted at 1 EUR = 1.1622 USD (ECB, 7 September 2026) and rounded — treat them as a rough guide, not a price in a US shop. Imperial values in brackets are conversions of the metric figure.
ABC powder extinguishers in brackets
- Jockel — Powder ABC 2 kg (4.4 lb) (fluorine-free)
budget option, 2 kg (4.4 lb) powder with a gauge, for cabins and the galley€42–45 (≈$49–52) - Gloria — PD2GAM ABC 2 kg (4.4 lb)
mid-range option, 2 kg (4.4 lb) powder with a bracket, the usual minimum on boats <10 m (32.8 ft)€44–48 (≈$51–56) - Gloria — PD6GA ABC 6 kg (13.2 lb)
larger option, 6 kg (13.2 lb) powder for bigger saloons and motor boats€46–55 (≈$53–64)
A clean agent or CO2 extinguisher for electronics
- Gloria — KS2ST CO2 2 kg (4.4 lb) (class B)
budget option, CO2 leaving no residue, for electrical equipment and the chart table€75–85 (≈$87–99) - Jockel — CO2 2 l (0.5 US gal) residue-free (class B)
mid-range option, clean agent leaving no residue, for electronics and fuels€95–105 (≈$110–122) - Gloria — KS5ST CO2 5 kg (11 lb) (class B)
larger option, 5 kg (11 lb) of CO2 for bigger technical spaces€105–120 (≈$122–139)
A fixed extinguishing system for the engine bay (automatic)
- Vetus — Fire Port
a port for fighting an engine bay fire without opening the hatch and feeding it oxygen€38–45 (≈$44–52) - Boat and Yacht — M1-2 (up to 1.0 m³)
mid-range option, automatic aerosol system with a thermal trigger, for smaller compartments€600–900 (≈$697–1,046) - Boat and Yacht — M1-3 (up to 1.5 m³)
premium option, automatic system with a detector and indication, for larger compartments€1050–1150 (≈$1,220–1,337) - Sea-Fire — fixed systems (manufacturer)
premium option, automatic clean-agent systems for engine compartments (sized by volume)from €500 (≈$581)
A fire blanket in the galley
- SVB — fire blankets and accessories
glass-fibre blankets (about 1×1 m (3.3 ft)) for smothering fat and clothing fires€15–35 (≈$17–41)
Smoke detectors and a carbon monoxide (CO) detector
- Cavius — smoke detector (10-year battery)
miniature smoke detector for cabins and the saloon€38–45 (≈$44–52) - Cavius — 10-year CO detector (manufacturer)
carbon monoxide detector where the heater and engine run€40–60 (≈$46–70)
LPG detector with a shut-off valve
- Plastimo — portable gas detector
budget option, portable LPG detector for checking the bilge and the gas locker€30–60 (≈$35–70) - GOK — gas shut-off valve (single)
easily reachable shut-off valve for the gas installation€30–35 (≈$35–41) - BEP Marine — FD-2 gas detector (fixed)
premium option, fixed sensor with an alarm, monitors the gas locker and the bilge€350–390 (≈$407–453)
A ventilated, self-draining gas locker
- SVB — deck boxes and lockers
boxes for the cylinder with ventilation and self-draining, for the gas locker€40–150 (≈$46–174) - GOK — shut-off valve block (2 outlets)
central shut-off block for the gas installation in the locker€50–60 (≈$58–70)
Signs and a written fire procedure
- SVB — safety afloat (signs)
stickers and plates marking fire equipment and escape routes€3–20 (≈$3–23) - Compass24 — safety on deck
markings, instructions and safety accessories (various manufacturers)€3–25 (≈$3–29)