Boat Fire

Boat Fire
July 4, 1998

It's a beautiful day out. I decide to take some friends out for a ride on my father's boat and see the big fireworks show in the harbor.

It's early so we decide to take a tour of George's Island (aka Fort Warren) to take in some sights and kill some time.

We have some fun and decide it's time to go. We start making our way back and the engine just seizes...

I try to turn it over again.. Nothin'.

Anyone even remotely involved with motor boats knows what a tempermental beast they are. I decide to give it one more shot before I try and flag down help (we're miles out).

Just then I can smell this acrid odor coming from the back. It's sort of like... burning plastic? NOT GOOD.

I look back and the engine erupts in a giant plume of smoke.

The whole engine block is billowing smoke...

It's attached to a 120 gallon gas tank...

We are standing on the gas tank...

SHIT!

I bust out the fire extinguisher and rip off the engine cover. I hit it for all it's worth. No good. The fire is inside the block so I can't get at it with the extinguisher.

We try and flag down help. No one will even stop. They hold there breath as they drive through the plume of the extinguisher and the smoke. Thanks buddy!

It's five minutes now. I am thinking about abandoning ship and making everyone swim to the nearest island while I try it snuff the fire.

Finally, I decide to rip out the electrical connections.

Fire's out. That's good.

Middle of nowhere That's bad.

Finally someone I know sees us. They wait with us until the Coast Guard arrives. The Coast Guard arrives and the good news is that this time, they don't have their weapons drawn. (That's another story for another time!)

They radio Sea Tow to come pick us up.

Two things about Sea Tow;

They charge $150 an hour

They drive really Really slow.

On the plus side, No one was hurt, and since I am no longer driving so I am free to drink heavily and we make it past the Harbor just in time to catch the display.

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