V1 HAD JUST LEFT BOAT RAMP AFTER FUELING UP. THEY WERE UNDERWAY HEADED WEST OUT OF THE PASS WHEN THEY SMELLED FUMES AND THEN THE ENGINE EXPLODED. OPERATOR OF V1 ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES BUT HAD NO LUCK. THEY OBTAINED A FLOTATION DEVICE AND ABANDONED SHIP FOR THEIR SAFETY.
MARCO ISLAND                  