On 7/22/2012, at about 10:45 am, a 1975, 20' Fiberform cabin motorboat was leaving the 7 Bays Marina in Lake Roosevelt near Davenport, WA.  When the operator was exiting the Marina he attempted to bring the boat up on plane, the engine "bogged" and would not accelerate.  There were 4 passengers (family) onboard.  A passenger aboard the boat said they smelled gas.  Operator made another attempt at acceleration without success.  There was an explosion that came from the engine compartment causing the cover to be projected into the air.  The engine compartment immediately erupted in flames.  At that point, the boat was about 1/2 mile off shore of 7 Bays Marina.  Operator attempted to put the fire out with a fire extinguisher, the flames would not subside.  Operator instructed the other members onboard to abandon ship, he continued to fight the fire.  A passer-by in a pontoon boat came to their aid.  The operator of the pontoon boat tried to assist in eradicating the flames by using his fire extinguisher, without success.   Operator abandoned ship.  Good sam recovered Operator and his passengers from the water.  Once safely onboard, good sam transported the victims to  Bays Marina.   

Operator stated that the fuel vapor ventilation system (blower) was running when the incident occurred.  He also stated that there was a functional flame arrestor on the engine and everyone on board was wearing a life vest with the exception of himself.  The boat's fuel tank was at 3/4 capacity when starting the voyage.  The boat operated fine when he took it out the day before.  Operator did mention, "I had just got the generator rebuilt and the gauge was acting funny, it was pegged". 

The fire subsided at about 3:30 pm.  The boat was still afloat, but mostly under water, only the bow was exposed.  NPS employees performed a GAR assessment and scoring a 27, which is in the green, the NPS Ranger decided to tow the wreckage with the patrol boat to 7 Bays Marina.  The boat was secured next to shore in the cove of the marina.  The boat was leaking oil so BPS staff surrounded it with boom.  The Dept of Environmental Quality was notified of the oil leakage.  NPS staff left the scene once assured the boat was in a safe location and secure. 

Operator was informed that it was his (owner's)responsibility to pay and arrange for the extraction of his boat. 

The boat was a total loss with estimated damages of $7,000.00.  Personal property damages of $3,000.00 were reported.  There were no injures reported.  Alcohol use was not indicated as a factor.

Davenport                     