I’m still on an epic mission to clear out a bunch of topics from my camera’s memory card.
Our Roamer originally came with a Kidde automatic fire suppression system for the engine room. Since the boat originally came with 300hp 427 Ford gas engines, which were swapped out in 1972 and replaced with a fabulous pair of 400hp turbocharged and intercooled 531ci Super SeaMaster engines, I can see why the original owner chose to invest in this optional upgrade.
The Super SeaMaster engines used four oil-cooled turbos to draw air-fuel mix through a carburetor over the marine gear, then pushed that explosive mix under pressure up to the sea water-cooled intercooler, which was mounted on the intake manifold where the carburetor would normally go. If any one of dozens of hose clamps had let loose in that plumbing system full of pressurized air-fuel mix, things could get very exciting. So it really did make sense to have the Kidde system onboard.
I repowered to Cummins 6CTA turbodiesels, so explosive gases filling the ER aren’t much of a concern. But still, fires can happen and having a massive automatic fire extinguishing system onboard is a net plus. After having been decommissioned while the refit was ramping up in 2012, I put it all back together a while ago.
It’s been a while since I took this apart
Two ongoing concerns during this long-term refit are that 1) parts will get lost (or stolen) and/or I’ll forget how I took something apart and can’t get it back together.
The manual release handle goes under the helm steering wheel
The cable was bent in a way that made reassembly intuitive
All I had to do was dig through the Kidde parts bucket and find the doodad that was shaped like the cable.
That looks about right
The handle cover and base were filthy
But they cleaned up pretty good
I couldn’t remove some varnish residue without taking the lettering with it
It’s not perfect, but it’s good enough.
Down in the ER, the 75lbs CO2 bottle was disconnected from the control head and plumbing
I didn’t want that thing going off while I was installing the engines. But I weighed the tank while we were barrier coating the hull interior and, if my numbers are right, it still has the full charge of CO2 from 50 years ago.
I took the firing mechanism apart to confirm the diaphragm and other components are still good
The automatic part of this system uses a closed metal “heat collector” attached to the ER ceiling, which is attached to the trigger diaphragm via 1/8″ copper tubing. If the heat collector gets sufficiently hot, the air in the system expands, pushing the diaphragm until it opens the valve and dumps the contents of the tank out via pipes that go to cone nozzles on either side of the ER.
The ‘heat collector’ pressurizes as it gets hotter
The diaphragm was fine, so I reassembled the trigger and attached the manual release cable
After resetting the trigger, it was time to attach the tank
It was a real bear getting the fittings to align with the tank, but I got ‘er done
The Kidde fire suppression system is recommissioned
I’m obviously still not done sorting out the electrical wiring. All in due time…
Next up in our 1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit: Galley Cabinets
1969chriscraftroamer46 
Hello, thank you for an informative article. I have a similar system on a 1961 50′ CC Constellation. A recent tank inspection found corrosion inside my tank rendering it non complaint. I thought a new tank replacement of exact size, weight, pressure and dimensions would be a normal maintenance solution but it appears Kidde will not stand behind this fix. My understanding is that the head/valve assembly and tank are registered as one unit and not interchangeable. As these units are quite old it appears unlikely I will find a head and tank unit of this age that would not be compromised. Has anyone come across this problem and is there an affordable solution beyond updating my entire ER fire system?
Robert
Hi Robert.
I suppose it depends on how comfortable you are with DIY solutions. Two 75lb CO2 tanks sold on ebay recently for $149 each (https://www.ebay.com/itm/224125197318). I can’t imagine that Kidde uses proprietary tanks. There really aren’t any regulatory requirements for recreational vessels that use these CO2 systems. If you were running passengers, I’d imagine they’d be more fussy.
Good luck with it!
Q
I have the exact same system in my 41 Roamer regal. Coast guard requires the system be inspected yearly, inspection includes removal and re weighing the tank. The tank itself has to be recertified every 5 years. Records of certifications need to be kept on board. Inspections have to be done by trained in Co2 professionals, as a mistake made while servicing the system can kill!
Hi Daniel!
USCG requirements for fire extinguishers on recreational vessels can be found at https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-33/chapter-I/subchapter-S/part-175/subpart-E. The minimum requirement for boats like mine is three non-expired 5-B extinguishers. If I have three 5-B extinguishers onboard this recreational vessel, the CO2 system is considered “excess equipment” and isn’t subject to USCG regs at all. Even if I only had two 5-B extinguishers onboard, the Kidde system would be subject to the regulations for recreational vessels, which are found in 46 CFR part 76, subpart 76.15, which lists no inspection or record-keeping requirements at all (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-46/chapter-I/subchapter-H/part-76/subpart-76.15) There are requirements for inspections and record-keeping for CO2 and other vessel systems under Title 46, but that Title only applies to USCG-inspected passenger vessels. If you charter your boat, I could see how those requirements would apply to you. But mine will be purely recreational, so the PAX regs don’t apply.
Cheers,
Q
Q. I have 2 454 motors, a gas-powered gen set, and 400 gal of gas on board! I want to be sure if needed, it works. When I first got the boat, I had the system tested by setting it off. I learned a lot about what happens when it does go off. The yearly cost to have the system tested is cheap insurance. As far as the Coast Guard goes, I like to be one step ahead of the absolute minimums,
Dan
I appreciate your situation, Dan. Like I wrote in the article, I consider the CO2 system to have been absolutely essential when this was a gas boat. I was only responding to your comment about inspections and recordkeeping being required by USCG regulations, which they’re not for recreational vessels.
BTW, if you have the same system as mine, you’ve no doubt seen the statement on the Kidde manual release plate that says “Weigh cylinder every 6 months.” I’d hazard a guess that in the 90+ year history of the company, the number of recreational boaters who have done that could be counted on one hand or less. If you really want to be “ahead of the absolute minimums,” shouldn’t you be checking every 3 months? 😉
Q, As the boat is on the hard 7 months a year, I feel safe with a once-a-year service. By the way, I visited Dick Moorland a few years ago, and he spoke quite highly of you!