I saw the TV report. I would very much like to see how Mr Dean would demonstrate his badly imagined hypothetical disastrous boiler explosion without pre-rigging (damaging) the boiler so that his required result could happen. It certainly wouldn't happen with a certificated boiler.
The fact is, he can't. He doesn't have the required knowledge to do so, and is using utterly inaccurate hearsay information as gospel to further his own misconceptions. Had the case been in any way different, he would not have made the statement If he did actually try it, he would find that, with a model boat sized boiler, there would be a pop and a fizz and that would be the end of the story. And as for quoting an incident where the combined perpetrator and victim created the problem by buying safety equipment from an unknown source at the lowest possible price and then not bothering to test it first before firing it up.......... thats a Darwin Award candidate.
I presume that the use of LiPo batteries will also be banned because of their well known pyrotechnic abilities (story from the same man, probably in the same pub), and that, since speed is also a hazard, the Perkassa that was shown will have a suitable speed limit placed on it? Then he can start worrying about yachties poking peoples eyes out with those dangerous masts. It can go on and on.
The pollution comments have a similar level of inaccuracy, but did the smoke producing boat shown possibly have an oil vaporising unit fitted? Best ban that, as well, it and similarly fitted boats are spreading more oil about the place than any steamer would.
Badly built and badly maintained steam plant can be a hazard, mostly to the user, so rather than a blanket ban, the notice should have stated that users of such craft should be able to produce current test and insurance certificates.
