RedactedNarrative: Two people were launching subject’s vessel, a 1987 22' Wellcraft center console boat into the water at the public boat ramp just off Caribbean Dr. in Ocean City, MD. After the vessel was launched, Subject2 attempted to start the engine. When he turn the ignition key, a loud "pop" was heard under the center console. Almost immediately, smoke and flames appeared from under the console. The flames spread so rapidly, that there was no attempt to put the fire out with the onboard fire extinguisher. The vessel was abandoned. Fearing the possibility of an explosion, the vessel was unsecured and pushed away from the dock. 
  
  Ocean City Fire Company was dispatched. Upon their arrival, the vessel was fully involved in flames and was floating in the middle of the creek. The fire trucks had a hard time putting out the fire because it was almost out of range of the fire hoses. The Ocean City Fire boat arrived on scene and eventually put the fire out but not before the fire burnt the boat to the water line. The vessel was a total loss.
  
  Subject advises that there was no insurance on the vessel. He has no explanation for what may have started the fire but feels it was some type of an electrical short. The Ocean City Fire Marshall had responded to the scene. At the writer's request they went out to where the vessel was now sitting on the bottom in about 10 inches of water and examined the vessel. They felt that the fire started in the area of the center console and was probably electrical in origin.
  
  There is no foul play suspected in this case. The owner contacted commercial towing who responded and pulled the vessel to the ramp where it was placed on the boat trailer and taken to the local landfill. There is no known environmental damage.  .
   