Flybridge Cruiser Destroyed to Fire in Lake Huron

An eleven meter flybridge motor cruiser with one person onboard caught fire and eventually was destroyed and sank on Lake Huron, in the vicinity of Point Lookout Harbor, Michigan on the late evening of Friday 29 July.  Thanks to social media platform Facebook the owner recounted the events, with the boat running splendidly at sixteen knots before the fire that lead to the destruction and sinking started to unfold.  The first event was that the port engine gave up power and unable to restart, couple minutes later the starboard engine followed suit.  At this point the flybridge cruiser was four nautical miles away from AuGres harbor, and smelling smoke the owner went down to check what was happening only to see the cabin engulfed in flames with the only option at this point to jump in the sea.  A nearby fisherman which saw the fumes from about a mile picked up the owner of the boat who was about fifteen meters away from the boat on fire.  There were no injuries in the event with the Coast Guard dispatching a vessel in the scene to follow and help in the events. 

The boat in this fire was a 1982 Silverton 37 Convertible mark.1.  This first version of the Silverton 37 Convertible offered a cabin with a lounge main deck and no lower helm station,  galley and dinette located opposite on the lower deck, and double-V berth cabin forward.  The Silverton 37 Convertible Mark.I was usually powered by twin Crusaders 350hp gas engines, with double Perkins 200hp diesel available as option.  The 37 Convertible Mark.1 was produced till 1989, with the more modern looking second generation launched in 1990.

Sport Cruiser Saved from Fire in Coomera Australia

An unattended fourteen meter Riviera sport cruiser went on fire, on the late morning of 27 July at the Boat Works marina, in Coomera, Gold Coast, Australia.  Thanks to quick thinking of Boatworks Marina crew and a firefighting squad the fire was immediately controlled and extinguished saving the boat on fire from total destruction, and avoiding the flames to move into other nearby yachts.  No one was injured in the fire, with the sport cruiser being lifted out of the water a day later.  

The Riviera in this accident is a M430 Sport Cruiser model, a two cabins five berth sport cruiser produced from 2001 till 2008, Riviera build 145 M430s included the North American Wellcraft Excalibur 45 branded models. 

Four Boats Destroyed by Fire in Marsala

At around 1200 hours of Monday 25 July a big black cloud of smoke went up from Marsala harbor, on the further West coast of Sicily signaling a fire was raging in the pleasure boat area.  A fire started on a ten meter sport cruiser to the right of the photo which immediately jumped on the three other boats to the starboard side.  Immediate the reaction of the fire fighting squad which went on the scene, and at some point totaled eighteen fire fighting personnel; three units which later expanded to other four squads totaling seven, with a fire fighting boat coming from the nearby Trapani harbor.  The fire was extinguished after over two hours of fighting.  Some reports are stating that the ten meter cruiser which started the fire had two persons onboard doing some maintenance work.  No injuries to persons are reported.

The boats in this fire from right to left are a Bayliner 3255 Avanti Sunbridge, a Salpa 325 Laver third boat in the photo, while the last boat is a refitted Cranchi 31 Endurance modified to twin outboard power.

Sport Cruiser Fire in Sorrento

A sport cruiser went on fire in Piano di Sorrento while moored in its berth at around 0830 hours of Friday 22 July.  Upon seeing fire coming from the sport cruiser the marina personnel towed it out from its mooring, while the ferry ships Freecia D'Argento and Blitz helped in extinguishing the fire immediately.  No injuries are reported as no one was onboard at the time of the fire, which is suspected to have originated from a short circuit.

Some minutes later to this fire on the same morning, a super sport yacht of 27 meters also went on fire about three nautical miles away from this incident, making the news confusing. 

The sport cruiser in this fire is a Chaparral Signature 24 produced from 1993 till 1997.  As many US sport cruiser of the time the Chaparral Signature 24 was single 240 to 270hp Mercruiser engine powered and offered an open interior layout sleeping four in a two plus two layout.  The 24 was replaced by the more spacious and higher freeboard 240 Signature in 1998.

Carver Boat Destroyed by Fire in Dana Point Harbour

A nine meter Carver cabin cruiser went ablaze in the Island side of Dana Point Harbour, Orange County, California on the afternoon of Sunday seventh July.  The first respondents to this fire were nearby boaters and two marina staff who controlled the blaze with the Harbour hoses, up until the Orange County Fire Authority arrived on the scene.  The Carver cruiser was with the owner and his dog onboard when the fire started, reportedly from an engine carburettor, with the blaze spreading in the engine room.  When the one owner saw the fire he grabbed the dog and ran out of the boat, with him sustaining minor injuries on the way off the boat. The causes of the fire are under investigation from the Orange County Sheriff office.

The boat in this fire is a Carver 2807 Riviera, a successful but unusual cabin cruiser in in its day as today for having an aft cabin layout under ten meters in length. Another unusual feature was the sporty open cockpit design.  Produced from 1983 to 89, the 2807 Riviera was replaced by the flybridge 28 Aft Cabin model in 1991.

Classic Riva Burns Outside Alghero Sardinia

A Riva thirteen meter flybridge cruiser with two persons onboard caught fire and eventually sank, just meters outside of Alghero's harbor entrance, in North West Sardinia on the evening of third July.  The thirteen meter Riva cruiser was apparently entering harbor when it caught fire.  Immediate the response of the Italian Coast Guard and Fire Fighting brigade with two different vessels, but to no avail with the Riva destroyed by the fire and then sinking.  No one was injured in the fire.

The Riva in this accident is a 45 SuperAmerica model.  Designed by Giorgio Barilani, Riva head designer from 1956 till 1991, the 45 was presented in 1977 and was the second Superamerica evolution following the 42.  The 45 SuperAmerica offered a two cabins lower deck with a forward crew cabin layout, and was powered by twin Cummins 370hp good for about thirty knots max. Presented in 1977 and produced till 1979 the 45 was the second best selling SuperAmerica following the 42, with some forty plus units sold.  The 45 was replaced by the 48 Superamerica in 1979.  

Two People Saved from Boat Fire in Portsmouth Harbor

Two people where rescued after an eleven meter traditional cruiser burst into flames near Portsmouth Harbor on 15:22 hours of Sunday nineteen June.  Gosport Lifeboat arrived six minutes later on the scene finding the two crew with life jacket's on, standing on the boats edge.  After rescuing the crew, the lifeboat towed the boat, with the duty fire tug SD Independent also arriving on the scene, with the boat sinking before arriving to its planned destination of shallow water.  Following the sinking a clean up to retrieve about 1800 liters of fuel and debris from the boat was started.

The boat in this fire is an Aquastar Oceanranger 38 Aft Cabin.  The Aquastar Oceanranger 38 Aft Cabin was introduced in 1984, following customers requests for more accommodation to the 38 Aft Cockpit which debuted in 1978, the model subsequently evolved into the Ocean Star 118 in 1995, with a soft super structure re-design but all similar elements.

Seneca Boat Fire Injures Fifteen

A Carver motor cruiser of twelve meters in length injured fifteen while it engulfed in flames and later exploded while fueling at Spring Brook Marina, Seneca, Illinois River, seventy miles to the South of Chicago at about 16:20 hours of Saturday 28 May.  Fourteen of the persons injured where onboard the boat which had seventeen passengers, while another injured person was a marina employee.  One of the persons suffered grievous injuries and was air lifted to a local hospital.  Before the fire and explosion the boat was reporting as having engine problems and returned to the marina to refuel.

The boat in this fire is a Carver 405 Aft Cabin produced from 1997 to 98 and renamed as 406 with very minor differences from 99 to 2002.  The Carver 405 Aft Cabin has a two cabins layout with a lower deck located galley, a master suite located aft, and a forward double guest cabin with offset double berth forward.  The 405/406 Aft Cabin features a modified medium-V hull shape, and was powered by twin Mercruiser 380hp gas engines and or Cummins 330 or 370hp diesel in line shafts.  Speeds where up to mid twenties with the optional Cummins diesels.  The Carver 405 Aft Cabin was a redevelopment of 1990 to 96 produced 370 Aft Cabin with integrated bathing platform and updated styling.

Two People Escape Boat Fire Near Moreton Island

A fourteen meter Riviera flybridge cruiser with two persons onboard went ablaze ten miles to the South of Moreton Island, off Brisbane on 0700 hours the morning of seventeen May.  The flybridge cruiser was under way and ten nautical miles from Moreton island when it took fire, with the two crew; a 62 year-old man and 57 year-old woman forced to jump into the sea.  The two crew where dispatched by another craft, which had been called by a cargo ship alerted by the fire.  The crew where first taken to the Brisbane Water Police, and later to Mater Hospital for smoke treatment.

The Riviera in this fire is a 45 Open Flybridge model produced from 2007 till 2021 in 77 units.  The Riviera 45 Open Flybridge offered an interior with three double cabins, and is powered by twin 670hp Cummins as standard, or optional Cats 715hp engine in line shafts, with the big engines good for 34 knots wide open throttle speeds.

Flybridge Cruiser Burns in Lavagna

A Ferretti flybridge cruiser of twelve meters in length went ablaze while in its mooring in Lavagna marina, to the South East of Genova in Italy at around 1430 hours of 22 January.  A fast call and immediate moving to the Ferretti cruiser from its berth to the under wing of the Eastern Lavagna marina break water caused no damage to any other boats.  With four fire fighting squads, including additional teams from nearby Chiavari and Santa Margherita saved the Ferretti cruiser from going total ablaze and becoming a total loss, with pump assistance saving it from sinking.  The cause of the fire is not reported.

This Ferretti model is the 39 Altura launched in 1989 and produced till 1993 to a design by Antocio Pusceddu, Ferretti first generation designer.  Replacing the 40 Altura which launched in 1986, the Ferretti 39 Altura came on the hull lines of the 40 Roadster an innovative fully enclosed hard-top cruiser which launched a year before in 1988, and was replaced by the 120 Fly in 1993.  The Ferretti 39 Fly featured a standard two cabin interior layout, with an optional three cabin version moving the galley on the main deck, and was powered by twin Cats 380hp, with 1992 or later versions being possible to option with the larger 420hp engines.  A total of 71 hulls are reported to have sold of the Ferretti 39 Fly and 40 Roadster units in a five year production run.  

Cranchi Cruiser Burns in Malta

A Cranchi sport cruiser of eight meters in length, had a fire onboard while in its mooring at Msida Creek marina in Malta at around 2100 hours of 26 October.  The Maltese Civil Protection and fire fighting squad along with the marina personal of Creek marina immediately moved the sport cruiser to avoid further damage to neighbour boats.  Due to the quick response the fire was controlled and avoided the Cranchi sport cruiser from total burning and sinking.  

The Cranchi in the accident is a Perla 25 model, produced from 1999 till 2002 and designed by Andreani. A sport cruiser of eight meters in size, the Cranchi Perla offered accommodation of four berths, including a shower head and galley, and was powered by twin Volvo 225hp gas petrol engines with stern drives or diesel in single 230hp or twin 110hp power.  The Cranchi Perla 25 was in 2003 with the addition of an extended bathing platform renamed as Zaffiro 28 and produced till 2009.   

One Person Injured as Sport Cruiser Burns in Policastro

An eight meter Rio sport cruiser went on fire while berthed in a Marina in Policastro on the late morning of  twentieth August.  The cause of the accident are unknown but one of the Marina guys who got hold of the sport cruiser and took it off harbour to avoid further damage to other nearby boats was seriously injured with 30% of burns to his body.  Policastro located in the South of Italy, further South of Salerno, features some nice cruising areas.  

The sport cruiser in this fire accident is a Rio 850 Cruiser produced from 2000 till 2007.  The Rio 850 Cruiser offered a classic layout for a sport cruiser of this size sleeping four, double Vee berth forward, galley and head, and a midships cabin.  The Rio 850 Cruiser was powered by twin gas engines of 220hp or single diesel 300hp.  Propulsion was always stern drive.

Flybridge Cruiser on Fire Near Elba Island

A fourteen meter Raffaelli motor cruiser with three guests onboard went on fire some nine miles from Isola Elba and nineteen miles from Pianosa island on the morning of Friday 16 July at around 0700 hours.  As reported the Raffaelli flybridge cruiser which had departed from Scarlino yacht harbor in the early hours of the morning, had the fire start out from the engine room.  A VHF call was made to the coast guard, with the Porto Ferrario, Isola Elba section responding immediately to the call and saving the three passengers, who in the mean time led themselves to safety onboard the tender. A fire fighting squad was deployed to save the Raffaelli flybridge cruiser, unfortunately with no success, which dominated by the fire ended in sinking.  

The flybridge motor cruiser in the fire is a Raffaelli Storm S,  a 14.50 meter flybridge cruiser presented in 1990 and produced till 1996.  The Storm S was an evolution of the Storm model launched in 1986, adding fifty centimetres in length and with this expanding the main cabin for more space in the saloon and aft deck, and now featuring a sloop stern.  The Storm S was a popular flybridge cruiser for the most part in the Italian market and a discreet success also coming in France, thanks to its three cabins layout and its seakeeping qualities, this being a Raffaelli trade mark.  The Raffaelli Storm S was powered with Cat engines; 380hp at first and newer units having the 440hp engines.  Top speed was 28 with the lower powered engines and 31 with the 440 units.  The Storm and Storm S sold over sixty units in a ten year production run, and are still popular used boats and a common sight in most Italian marinas.  Raffaelli has always been famous for producing honest boats with seakeeping and strong construction qualities, and till the entering of the CE rules in 1998 built its boats to A1 Class Nippon design standards, something rare in sub 24 meter plus yachts in that time. 

Motor Cruiser Burns Down in Trapani

A ten meter motor cruiser with thirteen persons onboard caught fire while being on charter on the morning of twelfth June.  The ten meter Italian build ArsMare cruiser was on charter duty navigating in Sicily to the South West of Trapani,  near the island of Formica when fire started coming out of the engine room.  A call for assistance was made, with military and Coast Guard responding immediately and taking to safety the thirteen passengers including of which where three kids.  With fire alarm on, the Italian Finance Police and Fire Fighters Squad went to the rescue of the motor cruiser, with little success and the boat succumbing to the flames and ultimately sinking.  The ten meter ArsMare cruiser was chartered for an excursion to the popular Egadi islands, which never happened.

The boat in the fire is an RS 31, a ten meter motor cruiser from ArsMare, an Italian boat builder which grew to fame in the late eighties and nineties with its medium sized fisherman cruisers.  The RS 31 was was one of ArsMare most popular models for its cruise comfortable interior accommodation and a free aft deck ideal for fishing.  The ArsMare RS 31 offered an interior for two cabins sleeping four below deck, plus extra two berths in a convertible dinette on the main deck.  The Ars RS 31 was shaft propelled and powered by twin Iveco Aifo 220hp, and 240hp.  The RS 31 was replaced by the more sportfish focused RS 33 ST in 1996.  ArsMare was located in Livorno, and was co-founded by Luigi Prosperi, who is also known for having managed Mochi Craft from 1990 to 1996, and founded Cayman Yachts in 1990.  ArsMare was sold to the Monaco Marine Group in the late nineties, changing the name to Ars Monaco after the sale.

Two Persons Suffer Burns in Salisbury Boat Fire

 

A man and woman in their twenty's suffered injuries after a nine meters Carver cabin cruiser went ablaze on the Maverick River in Salisbury Bridge Marina, Massachusetts on 15:50 hours of Wednesday ninth June.  The Carver boat with seven persons onboard, was at the fuel dock when it went ablaze, with Salisbury Fire Department responding to the fire first and where later assisted by Massachusetts Environmental Police and United States Coast Guard.  The two injured man and woman suffered serious burns as a result of the incident and were transported by Atlantic Ambulance to Portsmouth Regional Hospital, while the other five persons where reported as uninjured, and  found on the pier near the burning boat. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Salisbury Fire Department and State Police assigned to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

The boat in this fire is a Carver 530 Santego model as produced from 1990 to 93.  Carver's Santego line was a popular series in the USA for its extra space and futuristic raised bridge lines, offering sport cruiser looks with flybridge boat space.  The 530 Santego came out as a replacement to the 2897 Mariner and was replaced by the 310 Santego in 1994.

Lake Lanier Boat Explosion Injures Six Persons

An eleven meter Carver motor cruiser injured six people as it exploded and went on fire after refuelling at the gas dock in Margaritaville, Port of Indecision, Lake Lanier, Georgia at about 14:30 hours of Sunday, May ninth.  Georgia game wardens and Hall County Fire Services found a devastating scene and had to airlift a 16-year-old female and a 13-year-old male to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. Hall County Fire Services also transported a 39-year-old woman to Grady by ambulance.  A nearby dock also went on fire due to a jet ski that drifted away from the area.  Hall County Fire Marshal is investigating what caused the fire and explosion to the Carver Cruiser.

The Carver motor cruiser in this fire is a 638 Santego model produced from 1990 to 92, and then renamed as the 380 and produced till 2002.  An evolution of the 3867 which introduced Carver's Santego line, the 638/380 Santego is reported to have sold a thousand units in its twelve year production run.  The Carver Santego was an evolution of the Mariner line which was introduced in the seventies featuring a semi-raised bridge station to allow for a roomier interior.

Pershing Sport Cruiser in Flames

A Pershing 38 sport cruiser went ablaze while in its mooring in Porto Rosa in the North coast of Sicily at around 2100 hours on third February.  The Messina fire fighting squad went to the scene to control and put off the fire, with two units.  No one was injured in the accident, and no nearby boats where damaged, although the Pershing sport cruiser did receive extensive damage especially to the aft super structure.  This looks really a pity as this Pershing 38 really looked updated having silver and blue coloured hull as the modern units onwards from 1998, and safety railing as that of newer models.   

The Pershing 38 was launched in 1993 as a two cabins sport cruiser, with a single head, and a central dinette with galley opposite, and a shaft driven propulsion with Cats 306hp or optional 355hp.  The 38 was in 1997 updated to a 39 with the difference being a larger one foot longer extended bathing platform good for tender stowage, and an optional forward facing radar arch.  A surface drive option was also made available in the 39 but only two units where sold with this set up.  Designed as all Pershing's by Fulvio de Simoni the model had a discreet success selling around twenty units in a production run which lasted till year 1999.  With the Pershing 38, Fulvio de Simoni was pioneering the curved integrated windshield design, this being the third model, but also used to better effect to the previous 70 launched in 91 and the 57 in 92.  The integrated curved windshield was heavily copied by British boat builders Fairline with the Targa series and Princess with the V series onwards from 1995.

Sarzana Flybridge Motor Cruiser Fire

In the late afternoon of December 14 at around 1700  hours a fire was seen going up in Amelia on the right side of the Magra river.  The fire involved a flybridge motor cruiser of about fourteen meters in length.  Fire extinguishing crews first from Spezia and then from Sarzana went immediately to extinguish the fire, which could also be seen from a afar.  No injuries and further damages have been reported.  

The boat in the fire is a Ferretti 44 Altura S produced from 1989 up to 92.  The Ferretti 44 Altura S in its time became a best seller for its timeless and modern lines, and three double cabins comfortable accommodation.  The model came as a redevelopment of the 44 Altura model launched in 1986 with a redesign of the super structure, and updated interior.  The 44 Altura S was designed by Antioco Pusceddu who designed all the Ferretti models up until 1990.  The Ferretti 44 Altura S sold in around forty units and was at the time only second in sales to the fifty plus sales of the 52 Altura S produced in more or less the same period with a similar design.  The 44 Altura S was replaced by the Giovanni Zuccon designed 45 Altura-145 model in 92.

Fort Lauderdale Sport Cruiser Fire Injures Thirteen Persons

A twelve meter Wellcraft Sport Cruiser with 21 people on board exploded while berthed in a Fort Lauderdale Marina on October 15 at around 1400 hours.  The sport cruiser was side docked in the canals adjacent to the Fort Lauderdale Marine Centre in the area of Southwest street.  Out of the 21 people on board, thirteen have injuries, with seven of these having been taken to the hospital and two being in critical condition. 

The exploded boat in the fire is a Wellcraft 43 Portofino, a model the North American boat builder produced from 1988 up to about 97.  The Wellcraft 43 Portofino was initially produced with an open plan one stateroom layout, and then evolved into a two cabin version.  With line shaft propulsion the standard power was twin Crusaders 340hp gas engines, with optional Cat 375hp diesel power.  Top speed was about 25 knots in both power choices though the diesel option should offer a knot or two more of top end and more important a better constant cruising speed. 

Sea Ray Sport Cruiser Lost to Fire in Porto Pozzo, Sardinia

 A Sea Ray sport cruiser was lost to fire on the afternoon of sixteen September, just outside Porto Pozzo in the North East of Sardinia.  The fire was turned off by the marina crew of Porto Pozzo harbour with an assistance from a jet ski water bike. No one was injured in the accident, tough the Sea Ray sport cruiser was totally lost to the fire, with only the hull remaining afloat.   

The boat in the fire is a Sea Ray 250 DA Sundancer 1989 to 1992 model.  The Sea Ray 250 DA Sundancer offered a four berth accommodation in an open cabin layout, with a galley and shower head opposite.  Sea Ray 250 DA Sundancer are powered by single Mercruiser 200hp, but twin engine options also existed.  The unit in the fire was powered by twin engines.