Our tests included timing how long the spray of each fire extinguisher lasted. The Kidde 1044 sprayed its dust for 13-1/2 seconds; all the others discharged in 10 to 10-1/2 seconds.

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 one of the most serious hazards of boating, and a major cause of property damage and death. Out on the water, you can’t simply call your local fire department and walk away to safety—if there’s a fire, you have to deal with it. …