Burning Boats

rondds

rondds

Well-Known Member
Oct 3, 2006
8,859
Jersey Shore
Boat Info
2001 380DA
Engines
Merc 8.1s (2008)...Hurth ZF 63 V-drives...WB 7.0 BCGD (2013), Garmin 8208 & 740 MFDs, GMR 24xHD dome
They had arson investigators there. we'll see.
 
It must have been the day for boat fires....there was another a little further south in NJ too!





Brick man escapes serious injury in boat fire

by George Berkin/The Star-Ledger Tuesday December 09, 2008, 8:13 PM


A Brick man escaped serious injury this afternoon when he jumped into a river after an explosion and fire aboard his boat, according to New Jersey State Police.
Mark Calzaretta, 36, was piloting his 34-foot power boat on the Metedeconk River in the Ocean County township when it burst into flames about 5 p.m., said Trooper Diane Hamadyk of the State Police barracks at Point Pleasant.
There was both an explosion and fire aboard the Rinker pleasure craft, but it was not clear which came first, the trooper said. It was also not immediately clear what caused the combustion.
Calzaretta told police later that he was on the phone with his wife as the boat caught fire, and told her that he was going to flee by jumping into the river, which is about 500 yards wide in the area where he was.
He was plucked from the water by a passerby in a canoe, the trooper said. After returning to his home, Calzaretta went to Brick Hospital for observation, Hamadyk added.
The boat, which was gutted to the water line, drifted to the shoreline, the trooper added. Weather conditions were clear and dry.
 
I love the part about the passerby in a canoe. I mean, who is out on the River in the DARK in a canoe this time of year?
 
I wonder how many more boat fires we are going to see by guys who can't make their payments and are upside down in their loans? Not to say that's what happened to the boats above.
 
fc3 said:
I wonder how many more boat fires we are going to see by guys who can't make their payments and are upside down in their loans? Not to say that's what happened to the boats above.
Click to expand...

I'm thinking bunches and bunches.

IIRC over 12% of boat loan holder are in arrears or default. Not really a hard decision when you look at it logically. If one had to choose between losing the boat or the house the boat goes.

Arson....That's a different thing all together.
 
dpmulvey said:
I'm thinking bunches and bunches.

IIRC over 12% of boat loan holder are in arrears or default. Not really a hard decision when you look at it logically. If one had to choose between losing the boat or the house the boat goes.

Arson....That's a different thing all together.
Click to expand...

Really? I can live on the boat but I can't boat in the house. House goes.

Best regards,
Frank

Unless my wife gets a say in which case the boat and I go. Oh well
 
Why do folks always assume a boat fire this time of year was caused by a bilge heater? I think we should be careful with statements like that as bilge heaters are generally safe.
 
I think I have said this before, but a boat fire it my biggest fear with our boat. I know, insurance and all that, but I do think about it and seeing pics/videos like this is an eye opener. It's strange to see something sitting on water burning.
 
The boats surrounding those on fire are sure going to smell good.

I'm sure a few neighbors will be posting claims as well.
 
mrsrobinson said:
Why do folks always assume a boat fire this time of year was caused by a bilge heater? I think we should be careful with statements like that as bilge heaters are generally safe.
Click to expand...

vetteboy said:
Because it probably was.
Click to expand...

If it was a heater that caused the fire, I would think that it was more likely a space heater used in a bilge, then a bilge heater specifically designed for bilges.
 
Last edited:
osd9 said:
If it was a heater that caused the fire, I would think that it was more likely a space heater used in a bilge, then a bilge heater specifically designed for bilges.
Click to expand...

That is what I would assume first... One of them there Ace Hardware specials with the glowing red element and cheese-ball fan blowing over it... and a corroded plug.

When this happens, then the marinas put a rule in place of "no heaters allowed" which is stupid also... How about "no stupid heaters allowed." ?
 
Why do folks always assume a boat fire this time of year was caused by a bilge heater?
Click to expand...

Channel 11 News this morning says preliminary investigation reveals it was a space heater that caused the fire. WHERE the heater was situated was not mentioned.

It's not a knock on space heaters on boats. When it's cold, people turn auxiliary heaters on. If the wiring cant handle the current or they put the thing too close to a combustible, you're going to get a fire. One thing is sure - propylene glycol doesn't cause boats to go boom.
 
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