safety first
Evenwhensurroundedbywater,reisa
signicantconcern.Infact,becausesafeegress
fromtheboatislimitedifitbecomes
necessarytoabandonship,this
issuereinforcestheneedforeasily
accessiblePFDs.
WhenboatingintheUnited
States,boatsoflessthan26feet
inlengtharerequiredtohaveat
leastone(1)B1-rated,hand-held
reextinguisheron-boardandfully
charged,unlessthereisanauto-
maticreextinguishingsystem
installed.Anautomaticsystemis
availableasanoptiononAxisboats.
Hand-heldunitsarenotincludedasstandardequip-
mentsothattheconsumercanchoosefromawide
rangeofreextinguishers,manyofwhichexceed
theminimumrequirements.If the boat does not
have an automatic re extinguishing system in-
stalled, the boat owner MUST purchase and install at least one (1) B1-rated re extinguisher.
Mostcountrieshavere-extinguishingandsuppressionrequirementsforrecreational
boats.Itistheresponsibilityoftheboatownerand/oroperatortodeterminetherequirements
forthebodyofwateronwhichtheboatingwilloccur.Ignoranceofthelawisanunacceptable
excuseandwilllikelynotpreventtheboaterfromreceivingacitationorarrest.
Theautomaticreextinguishingsystem,whereequipped,ismountedinsidetheengine
compartment.Intheeventthesystem’ssensorrecognizesextremeheatinthecompartment,
thesystemwillcreateachemicallymixeddrysuppressionmaterial.Inmostinstances,thereis
suicientsuppressionmaterialtosuocatethereanditssource.Intheeventofare,boat
operatorsshouldimmediatelyturnOFFtheboat’sengine,whichwillalsoshutdownthepressur-
izedfuelsystem.
AnautomaticreextinguishingsystemhasanLED-lightedindicatorlocatedadjacenttothe
throttle-shifteratthedriverhelm.Aspartoftheroutinesafetychecksastheboatpowersup,
theoperatorshouldverifythattheextinguishersystemindicatorisactive.
Whenever re extinguishers or suppression units have been used in
ghting an on-board re, a careful determination should be made
whether it is safe to operate the boat. In most instances, it is advisable
to have the boat towed to shore rather than risk additional re or per-
manent damage to the drive train. The boat should be thoroughly serviced by an authorized Axis dealer
prior to operation again. Operation prior to service could result in additional damage to the boat, and
may result in serious injury or death.
Followingdischargeofresuppressionmaterial,thesystemwillrequirerecharging.If
anautomaticsystemhasdischarged,itisunlikelythattheboatcanberun.Axisrecommends
gettingatowtoshoreandhavingtheenginecompartmentthoroughlycleanedandthere
suppressionsystemrechargedpriortorunningtheboat’sengineagain.Ifhand-heldunitshave
beendischarged,theywillalsorequirerecharging.Thechemicalsinallresuppressionunits
candiscolorupholsteryandcarpeting.Itisrecommendedthattheboatbecleanedassoonas
practical.Theresuppressionmanufacturersprovideinformationregardingtheproperand
appropriatecleaningagents.AlsopayattentiontothecleaninginstructionsprovidedintheCare
andMaintenancesectionofthisOwner’sManualtoavoidpermanentdamagetomaterials.
fire
extinguishing
equipment
Axis
Owners
Manual
2019
Page 82