Operator had been drifting on the river.  He noticed a fair amount of water in the engine compartment and flipped on the bilge pump because the automatic bilge pump switch was not working.  He started the motor and idled out to the middle of the river and the engine ran at idle for approximately ten minutes.  He turned the engine off and observed that there was still a lot of water in the engine compartment.  He flipped the blower switch on, started the engine, and noticed some black smoke.  He turned the engine off and opened the engine compartment.  He flipped the blower switch on again and did not think it was working.  Two or three seconds later he started the engine for a third time.  He heard a poof and saw flames emanating from under the engine.  The fire appeared too large to extinguish with his fire extinguisher, and he was concerned about an explosion because he had just filled out the gas tank the previous night.  Everyone grabbed a pfd and entered the water.  911 was called and all parties swam safety shore.  The vessel became fully engulfed.  The motorboat was recently serviced at a dealership.  Vessel was a total loss.
South Hadley                  