I READ with interest the various recent contributions regarding carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning on boats, and especially the effect of other boats' smoke (both chimneys and exhausts) on those living aboard, writes John Howard.
I have recently had a bit of a health scare (which I won't bore you with here) which caused me to consider if CO might be either the cause of my affliction or perhaps a contributing factor.
Two alarms
I have two CO sensors/alarms on my boat, one of which is at the galley end (close to the Alde boiler and the gas cooker), the second is close to the Squirrel solid fuel stove. It's also worth mentioning that I test these alarm every month by pressing the 'Test' buttons.
Due to my recent health problems, I checked out the 'working life' of these monitors and find that generally they are expected to last between five and seven years before needing replacement.
As mine were both now four years old, and don't have a digital display of the actual Parts per Million (ppm) measurement of CO in the room, I have now ordered new monitors with built in displays to help keep a wary eye on the CO levels in the room, rather than just wait for an alarm to sound. These were a little over £5.00 off Ebay, so in my view well worth changing my existing monitors a little early.
Third party risks
Discussing this with a Boat Safety Engineer friend of mine, I understand that apart from the well publicised and discussed first party risk to a boater (particularly at this time of year as amazingly some boaters are reportedly sitting around their solid fuel stoves with the stove doors open to gain more heat from the stove), but there is the increased third party risk of CO poisoning from other boats, either from running their engines too close to neighbouring boats air vents (especially if the wind is in the wrong direction) or similarly with boat chimney stacks belching smoke from wet wood.
As we see so often at this time of year with wet wood, these plumes of smoke can find their way into neighbouring boat's ventilation ducts surreptitiously contributing to the boats own CO output onboard. This type of third party contribution to a boater's exposure should be taken especially seriously for those living on board in marinas—-where a neighbour's chimney is probably only three to four feet away from your boat. So those chopping up unseasoned and still wet wood to burn on a boat close to you are in my opinion creating a severe and significant risk to the health (and lives) of those living cheek by jowl to them.
Will record boat's CO
My Boat Safety Engineer pal has invested in a natty piece of kit manufactured by a company called Lascar Electronics (www.lascarelectronics.com). This company manufactures a CO Data Logger (https://www.lascarelectronics.com/easylog-data-logger-el-usb-co/) which will monitor CO over a given period, taking samples every 10secs, 30secs, one minute or five minutes.
This will record the CO on your boat for between three days and three months (depending on the frequency of sampling) and can be viewed in graph form by plugging the device into the USB port of your laptop using the free software provided with the device. The cost of this piece of kit is just under £70.00 +VAT, but a small price to pay for peace of mind I believe.
CO went up when stove lit
I borrowed this bit of kit yesterday, and reviewed the data this morning, showing that CO on my boat went from zero up to 14ppm when I had my squirrel lit along with my Alde (for hot water) and my gas cooker fully loaded for a roast dinner last night. Even then the peak of 14ppm was only for a period of 45 minutes—so not a problem. I have already put it on my 'Christmas Wish List' with my wife, and will use it to run a monthly check on my various CO emitting equipment through the winter months.
We live on the cut, so don't have so much of a worry about exhaust and chimney fumes from boats moored alongside, although we do work with our neighbours to make sure that our engines don't gas one another (I have a particularly smokey Lister, so am very aware of where and when I run my engine), but I would certainly recommend this bit of kit which will keep a record of the level of CO in your boat without the need to keep looking at an LED display, and if you are affected by a neighbouring boater, will support your case with hard facts when asking them to be a little more considerate.
After all—your life could depend on it!