Fire extinguisher recall from Kidde may mean - NO MORE TICKETS!!!!!

[Zero Client]

So, Kidde, the main company who makes all fire extinguishers world-wide, recently recalled about 50 years worth of fire extinguishers with plastic handles. This INCLUDES most Jetski craft extinguishers!!

http://www.kidde.com/home-safety/en/us/support/product-alerts/recall-kidde-fire-extinguisher/

I've already submitted 3 of my house-hold extinguishers, and then noticed the recall covers Jetskis as well. Not like anyone really cares about extinguishers on their stand-up skis, but here-in is the catch-loophole!

Note to Personal Watercraft OwnersIf your push-button Pindicator model is used with a personal watercraft, Kidde does not currently have an exact replacement for it, but will provide a replacement that is U.S. Coast Guard rated, and similar in size. While it may not fit in the same location as the extinguisher that you currently have, there may be another space on your watercraft where the extinguisher can be stored or mounted.

So, this brings up a very interesting topic! If Kidde is supplying fire extinguishers of a different size then there may not be any way to physically install them into our skis - hence - a loop-hole that enforcers should not be able to write us tickets for not having extinguishers as the replacements no longer fit into our watercraft per the above statement from the fire extinguisher manufacturer!

Yeay!!

 

[Quinc]

cops/judges around here would say if that is the case we should not be riding until we have them.

 

[Big Kahuna]

If you really believe that the USCG, Your local Marine Patrol (Local or State) cares that Kidde cannot provide a fire extinguisher that fits in the OEM Location is going to exempt you from having one your way out of luck. Guess what, Your Havoc, Rickter, Krash, Bun, Superfreak, Bob/Hurrican, What ever AM hull you are running does not have a location for them. Most of us strap them to our gas tank or just chance it not having one.

 

[DAG]

It never hurts to try but I would not bank on it. We typically have "safety checks" at the boat ramps early each season where our DNR checks current registration, life vest count (boats), fire extinguishers and whistles prior to letting us use the ramp and by summer they stop the 100% inspection and more or less spot check people. It will be interesting to get there take on it. Person to person around here they seem to have more flexibility and common since than a judge.

If anything I think it would be easier to get by with a "tampered" extinguisher which is just a decoy thats lacking the powder and the extinguisher not passing its "test" with recalled units.

It is good to know the "new" versions wont fit. I wont be sending mine in for the free replacement.

 

[Zero Client]

They send you a new one first. I'm not sure if they are going to want my old ones back though.

 

[mikidymac]

So, I did the recall and they want the old ones back but they can't force you to send them back. I received 9 of the new ones to replace my recalled ones. THey are about 3/8" larger in diameter and will not fit in the compartments of any of my skis so they are basically worthless. I kept all of my old ones that the indicator still pops back up and put them back in all my skis. There is a change they will fail in an emergency but there is also a chance they will work and they will pass any inspection. I am not going to duct tape the new extinguisher in my ski because Kidde are a bunch of idiots and can't send replacements of the same size.

Maybe if enough of us email the CPSC and tell them the replacements are not correct and will not work for the intended application they will make Kidde fix the issues.

 

[Zero Client]

I also got my replacement Kidde units, and they are 3/8" larger in diameter. Also the handle extends out as well making it even more impossible to fit in any ski fire extinguisher holder.

 

[bored&stroked]

I can't believe they check people for this stuff. I've never carried one in over a decade.

 

[Big Kahuna]

Take a piece of hydroturf, wrap it around your extenguisher and then zip tie it with a huge zip tie, then kind that are about 2-3' long. Leave a little gap in it. Then run your gas tank strap down through it between the strap and the turf. Hook the strap. Now your fire extenguisher is strapped to the gas tank (If you have room vertically), You can pull it out easily but no so easily that is will come loose. Been doing this since 2002 or so.

 

[Zero Client]

Thats not a great solution either. The extinguisher could explode above 120F. As stated on the side of the extinguisher, must stay between -40F and 120F. It might get too hot under the hood. Also how would anyone ever be able to access it while its sealed under there?

We're stuck between technicalities and the law

 

[AirJunky]

So can't you use another brand of fire extinguisher? I think the one I picked up at Home Depot is a First Alert. It was like $10 or $12.
Probably isn't going to be usable putting out a fire on my own ski, but might help putting out a fire on someone else's ski.

 

[CD155MX]

Take a piece of hydroturf, wrap it around your extenguisher and then zip tie it with a huge zip tie, then kind that are about 2-3' long. Leave a little gap in it. Then run your gas tank strap down through it between the strap and the turf. Hook the strap. Now your fire extenguisher is strapped to the gas tank (If you have room vertically), You can pull it out easily but no so easily that is will come loose. Been doing this since 2002 or so.

Got any pics of this installation?

 

[DAG]

Thats not a great solution either.

Are you looking for solutions to carry the new style?
Place one in a camel-pac. It fits, stays in place, cant feel it thru vest and you can access it

Are you looking for solutions to loophole the law.
good luck

 

[CD155MX]

What we want and what we can get away with don't usually align. Unfortunately.

 

[bored&stroked]

So can't you use another brand of fire extinguisher? I think the one I picked up at Home Depot is a First Alert. It was like $10 or $12.
Probably isn't going to be usable putting out a fire on my own ski, but might help putting out a fire on someone else's ski.

That's what I've been thinking. Plenty of other options out there. It just cost money, which nobody is willing to spend on something they won't even use in an actual fire.

 

[Vumad]

Does anyone know for 100% if there are any time/access requirements for the mounting location? Say for example if it is bolted in and you have to get out a wrench to use it, is that okay?

 

[mikidymac]

Not sure what the access requirements are but on two of my seadoo's they are under the hood in the engine compartment and a pain to access, 1996 HX and 2001 XP.

 

[AirJunky]

That's what I've been thinking. Plenty of other options out there. It just cost money, which nobody is willing to spend on something they won't even use in an actual fire.

I really doubt anyone will use their own jetski fire extinguisher to put out a fire on their own jetski. More than likely it'll be a fire on a nearby ski, truck, ATV, BBQ, etc. If thats true, anyone who has a fire on their ski should hope their buddy is packin a fire extinguisher!

Although, if the ski burns, it might be better to just push it out into deeper water & claim a loss.

 

[Big Kahuna]

Thats not a great solution either. The extinguisher could explode above 120F. As stated on the side of the extinguisher, must stay between -40F and 120F. It might get too hot under the hood. Also how would anyone ever be able to access it while its sealed under there?

We're stuck between technicalities and the law

Your Havoc does not have a built in Holder in the hood unless you have one of those front footholds that has a spot for it............

The extinguisher will not explode above 120 F unless it sits at that temp for a long time and I am going to say the temps would need to be much hotter for that to happen....... But hey, mine has never exploded.

 

[Big Kahuna]

I really doubt anyone will use their own jetski fire extinguisher to put out a fire on their own jetski. More than likely it'll be a fire on a nearby ski, truck, ATV, BBQ, etc. If thats true, anyone who has a fire on their ski should hope their buddy is packin a fire extinguisher!

Although, if the ski burns, it might be better to just push it out into deeper water & claim a loss.

Bingo, It is not for your use but for you to use in aid of other boaters.