T&T: Fire extinguishers and Vacustink

[Keith]

Depends on what you mean by "expired". If they tags are out of date, a local 
fire extinguisher company can come out and re-inspect and re-tag them. 
Pretty cheap for the dry chemical units, but the Halon system will be more 
like $100 - $200, since they have to remove and weigh it as well as 
physically inspect and maybe electrically test contacts, etc.

If the extinguishers are past a manufacturer's expiration, they may have to 
be hydro tested... at that point the fire extinguisher company can tell you 
if it's cheaper to get new ones or re-certify the old ones.

Foam extinguishers like the ones Kidde used to make are trash after 
expiration.

________________
On the vacu-stink... there MAY be a charcoal filter in your vent line. If it 
has ever gotten wet from the tank overflowing, it's history and either needs 
to be replaced or removed. Peggie will tell you to just remove it, as it 
keeps air from getting into the tank and doing it's job. For most boats with 
limited ventilation of the holding tank, OdorLos is about the only treatment 
that will work, since it generates it's own oxygen to help aerobic 
decomposition. A better long term solution is to install great big vent 
lines, or a Sweettank system from Raritan which aerates the tank contents.

You may also have a leak somewhere inside the boat... follow your nose!


Keith
_____
AI programmers only think they do it
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Adam Trachtenberg" <amtberg at bellsouth.net>



> All the fire extinguishers on my recently purchased boat (4 hand and one
> automatic Halon in engine room) are expired.  Dumb question, but do they
> need to be replaced, or can they somehow be tested and recertified?  The
> boat is six years old and all the gauges show full.
>
> And on a completely unrelated note, I've noticed lately that there's
> quite a foul odor after flushing my vacuflush head.  The odor permeates
> the cabin rather quickly.  The holding tank is only about 1/2 full and
> I'm using Sealand's recommended additive.  Otherwise the thing seems to
> work fine.  I don't see any leakage around the tank and the odor
> disipates a few minutes after flushing.  Any idea what's going on?