Another boat fire in Fort Lauderdale

I don't know where you could even fit 21 passengers on that size vessel. Just absolutely cramped like sardines. It's a Searay sundancer style of boat, not a big 41' center console with a lot of open deck space. People on the foredeck block visibility for the Captain and the cockpit area is not that big. In comparison, I had 23 or 24 people on a 43' Tiara LS one time, we had exterior seating for everyone comfortable and plenty of deck space and nobody was even crowded (as well as lifejackets).

Inboard gas boats are the most risky and by far of propulsion types for both explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning. Not to say that they can't be safe, but older ones are generally neglected, or even on the well maintained ones given this age, the fuel tank could just start leaking while underway.

There isn't a gas dock anywhere near where they ended up.

Personally, as far as i am concerned, 21 aboard is too many for that size boat, and i also am curious if they had 21 PFD's (of proper size). The old adage, "better to be safe than sorry"
The more on any boat the more the safety risks come into play.

If that's an illegal charter I'm surprised the captain managed to pass the test being so stupid. Hopefully he'd never see the light of day again. You guys know the people in Florida better than I do. Are there captains there that stupid?

J, 21 people can easily occupy that boat. Been to a south Florida bar lately? Shoulder to shoulder is considered still room for more. I suspect if you go to Haulover on a sunny Saturday you'll find more than a few boats loaded like that.

Of course it is, but what can you do. Being stupid isn't illegal. Take a look at your boat. Then take a look for that little placard that states the passenger capacity (like the one you'll find on every 16').

My mistake, I assumed that as it was tied it was at a fuel dock.
Big booms and fueling usually go hand in hand

Yes you can fit 21 people of a 41 express. Half in the cockpit and half on the foredeck. Would you want to be on board? Probably not.

Once again, yes onboard gas boats can be safe but the right equipment and preventive maintenance. Unfortunately this is rarely the case on such older boats hence the Frequent accidents. People by a 20 year gas inboard and don’t know anything about the precaution they need to take.

as to being to stupid to pass the test, most illegal charters are conducted without a licensed captain at the helm so your point is irrelevant. Those that have passed the test and spend the money on the license, test, medical etc usually don’t want to risk their license.

Pretty safe to assume that if this had been a charter the USCG would be all over it.

Yes, everyone can get off the fueling tangent. I would never have 21 on that size boat, but the boat may have had no intention of leaving the dock. Still there was inadequate room to quickly escape. I've always been of the opinion you should never have more people aboard than you have seats on the boat and it had about 13. 13 instead of 21 would have likely saved some.

Now, what are the next most likely causes? First, is electrical. Second is galley. Now neither of those has an explosion. Most frequent explosion would then be propane tanks.

I will Never had propane on the boat. Never. Yes just like gas inboards it can be safe but it s not worth it. For grilling I either use and electrical grill or charcoal. I just don’t like propane.

i will always remember years ago In st Barth’s seeing the aftermath of a 50ish sailboat ripped open like a can opener had been used following a propane explosion which killed 4 on board.

The only propane that boat would carry, if any, would be a small bottle for the stove. However I believe the stove on that boat is electric. Judging from the burn pattern I'd guess an engine room fire and with that most likely a gasoline leak. If that boat is as old as I suspect most of the fuel system (hoses, tanks, carbs) was due for replacement a long time ago. There was a thread a few weeks back about what to do with leaking tanks on an old Mainship, and I think the consensus was the boat wasn't worth the expense of fixing.

Now charcoal on a boat would scare the hell out of me. It takes forever to cool. Even after dousing with water the embers have been known to reignite.
It's funny hearing these fears of gasoline and propane. Our cars, bikes, lawn equipment, etc. all run on gasoline. The BBQs on our decks are propane and many of us have natural gas pumped into our homes. When these fuels explode it's devastating, but it happens so rarely we continue to use them. As for electric that's no safer. How many house, car and boat fires are caused by shorts or overloaded circuits. How many people get electrocuted every year. Danger is all around us every day. It's our job to mitigate it by maintaining our homes, vehicles and vessels. When we don't we often learn the hard way.

I have no fear of propane provided it's for a grill and tank and plumbing outside. NEVER would I ever light a charcoal grill on a boat.......flying ashes......coals that stay hot for a very long time, delayed control over the heat of it.....

Cars, bikes, lawn equipment, BBQ's and I will add RV's don't have bilges.

Guess you must drive a Prius. Guess you guys would or never have owned a small boat. Under 38' most are gas. That's a lot of boats. Don't hear of many exploding or burning either. In fact if you look back on the boats reported here burned this summer every other one of them has been a diesel boats.

That makes it a charter. Next question crewed or bareboat.