Vessel began to lose power and emit a louder than normal engine noise. The operator reduced the power to the vessel in response to the loss of power and increased noise.  Gauges within the vessel's instrument cluster indicated no abnormality in the vessels operation. It was at this point that the passengers  noticed white smoke billowing out from the underneath of the engine compartment hatch. Expecting the automatic on board fire control/ suppression system to engage, the adults hailed another vessel in the area with whom they were operating with for the weekend and boarded their vessel, evacuation the juvenile passengers first. Once onboard the other vessel the adults retreated to a safe distance and contacted 911.  While waiting for a response from emergency services, they observed the white smoke billowing from the vessel turn to black flames and began to appear from within the engine compartment approximately ten minutes after they had all evacuated.  When officers arrived on the scene, the vessel was completely engulfed in flames. There where no inujuries sustained in this accident and pfd's where being worn and used by the juvinile passengers. Alcohol was not suspected in this accident.
SOMERSET                      