CONTINUOUSWAVE

Hi,

We imported a 2006 Ventura 210 to Croatia back in 2011. The boat was registered and passed a technical inspection at the local port authority, however since Croatia joined the EU the technical criteria have changed. Upon the recent inspection it was noted that our Ventura is lacking a fire port. This is apparently a requirement for all boats that have built in fuel tanks as the Venture does.

What the port authority has suggested is that we retrofit one of the fuel tank access panels on the floor panel with the fire port.The purpose of this is if there is a fire with a fuel thank you can put the fire extinguisher to fight the fire without open the port and letting air in. I am not sure if there are any access panels that do have the port that we can easily swap out or this has to be a DIY job. I would ideally avoid drilling new ports into the Whaler.

Here are the example fireport that are sold in the EU. I am sure there must be after market solutions.

https://www.force4.co.uk/item/Force-4/Fire-Port/DJM

Here is how one was DIY retrofitted.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zt6EFsM8MWM

Any guidance is much appreciated.

Thank you

I would check to see if your boat is exempt from the new to you EU requirement under a "grandfather provision" since it was imported thirteen years ago. If there is no grandfather provision in the EU regulation I would check with a Boston Whaler dealer in the EU to determine if any special parts and or procedures are required to install the fire port.

I would copy what the owner of the Chapperal in the Youtube video did.

Drill out one or two of the floor inspection ports (they have pry-out lids) and install the fire port. Problem solved.

Thanks Phil!

Always good to hear from you George !