Fire Extinguishers: A Good Bunch, But Get More than the Minimum

They all performed comparably, but we'd pick the Kidde 1044, which was somewhat effective on Class-A fires and discharged for three seconds longer than the others.

The test group (from left): First Alert Marine 5, ûFirst Alert Marine 10, Kidde Mariner 10, Kidde ûUN 1044, Kidde Fire Out Foam.

Back in the days of wooden ships with pine-tar sealants, fire was the threat most feared by mariners. Nowadays, with plastic hulls, engines, fuel tanks and extensive use of electrical devices, neither the threat nor the fear has gone away. A fire at sea is still an extremely serious hazard, and a major cause of property damage and death. Out on the water, you can’t simply call your local fire department—if there’s a fire, you have to deal with it. …