Blown engine knocks out South Whidbey Fire/EMS boat for a month

South Whidbey Fire/EMS’s year-old fireboat has been out of commission for more than one month, and it will likely be shore bound several more weeks before the vessel returns to service. The boat’s starboard engine failed on June 25 during a regular training exercise, said Assistant Chief Paul Busch, and must be replaced.

By Evan Thompson • July 31, 2015 6:45 pm
South Whidbey Fire/EMS responders charge through choppy water off of Langley’s shores during a December 2014 snowstorm.
South Whidbey Fire/EMS responders charge through choppy water off of Langley’s shores during a December 2014 snowstorm.

South Whidbey Fire/EMS’s year-old fireboat has been out of commission for more than one month, and it will likely be shore bound several more weeks before the vessel returns to service.

The boat’s starboard engine failed on June 25 during a regular training exercise, said Assistant Chief Paul Busch, and must be replaced.

The fireboat was built with about $500,000 of federal grant funds. It’s currently at North Island Boats in Anacortes waiting to be repaired.

“There’s a piston that broke in the cylinder,” said Mike Goff, owner of North Island Boats. “I’m not sure anybody has truly identified the cause of the failure of the engine.”

Engines of the same specifications typically cost anywhere from $30,000 to $35,000, Goff said. It’s still unclear, however, who will pick up the tab.

The warranty with the engine manufacturer, Hamilton Engine Sales, is for one year or 1,000 hours of usage. The boat was put into service in May 2014, but crews have only put 250 hours on the 450-horsepower engines and fire officials are hoping for a break.

“We haven’t had the chance to use it on an actual fire yet,” Busch said. “We’ve been out on some marine rescues and have done some training exercises and drilling. But no fires yet with it.”

Busch hopes to find out whether the engine will be covered by the warranty in the next week or so.

If the district does get stuck with the bill, funding for a replacement will come out of the general fund and capital expenditure budgets, Busch said. A negative impact on either fund is not expected.

What caused the cylinders to overheat is somewhat of a mystery, Goff said, especially considering it’s a fairly new engine with low hours.

“The design of the pump seems to be fine, the propulsion seem to be fine,” Goff said. “There is evidence of stress on the motor, but the numbers indicate there shouldn’t be.”

Busch said the boat’s operators were out on the water for no more than five minutes when the engine failed. They limped back to dock with the port engine, and the next day it was sent to Anacortes for repairs.