OPERATOR HAD JUST FILLED HIS BOMBARDIER JET SKI UP WITH GAS AT TOWN CREEK MARINA.  THIS SPECIFIC JET SKI HAS A GAS CAP ON THE CENTER CONSOL AND DOESN'T REQUIRE THE REMOVAL OF ANY ADDITIONAL PART OF THE SKI.  AFTER OPERATOR HAD FINISHED FUELING UP AND PAYING FOR HIS GAS HE GOT BACK ON HIS SKI, AS HIS SON HAD ALREADY DONE.  WHEN BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE READY THE OPERATOR PUSHED OFF THE DOCK WITH HIS FOOT.  THE SKI WAS STILL JUST DRIFTING AWAY FROM THE FUEL DOCK AT THIS TIME.  WHEN OPERATOR ATTEMPTED TO START THE SKI BY PUSHING THE START BUTTON THERE WAS AN IMMEDIATE EXPLOSION.  THE EXPLOSION LIFTED BOTH PASSENGERS APPROXIMATELY SIX FEET OFF THE SKI AND PROJECTED THEM INTO FALLANTS CHANNEL.  THE EXPLOSION TOTALLY DESTROYED THE SKI, BREAKING IT INTO TWO LARGE SEPARATE PIECES.  THE EXPLOSION RIPPED AND BUSTED ALL THE RIVETS FROM THE FIBERGLASS HOLDING THE TOP PORTION OF THE SKI TO THE BOTTOM PORTION.  THIS RIPPED ALL CONNECTIONS APART; INCLUDING ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS, COOLANT CONNECTS, AND OIL AND GAS CONNECTIONS.  THE FRONT BOTTOM PORTION OF THE SKI WAS BURNT TO THE WATERLINE.  AFTER BOTH PASSENGERS WERE SAFELY RESCUED THE SKI WAS TOWED TO SHALLOW WATER AND STORED UNTIL IT WAS PICKED UP BY OPERATOR.  FIRE EXTINGUISHERS FROM THE DOCK AND MARINA WERE USED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE.  PROPER PFDS WERE WORN BY BOTH PASSENGERS AND NO ALCOHOL WAS DETECTED BY EITHER INVESTIGATING OFFICER.  BOTH THE OPERATOR AND PASSENGER WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR MINOR INJURIES.  IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THIS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF THE PROPER STEPS HAD BEEN TAKEN TO VENTILATE THE PROPER COMPARTMENTS AND VAPOR FUMES HAD BEEN CHECKED FOR.  NO CITATIONS WERE ISSUED RELATING TO THIS ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION.
BEAUFORT                      