RedactedNarrative: On May 17, 2021 at 1810 hours Officer And I, Officer responded to the area of St Martins River for a reported boat fire.  Upon arrival to the area officers did not locate anything evident, but observed a vessel a drift with the motor in the trimmed up position.  Officers made contact with the vessel which was a 2006 Angler, displaying Maryland registration 5271BU.  Officers observed the engine cowl had suffered fire damage, and the engine was disabled.  There was no active fire and the operator of the vessel was not injured,  who stated that he used a bucket filled with water to extinguish the fire. Operator was able to return the vessel to the Beauchamp Road boat dock, under tow from a friend.  Once back at the dock Operator advised the following.
  
      Operator stated that he was sea trialing the vessel after it recently had mechanical repairs completed.  Operator stated that after idling out of the canal he brought the vessel under power and began to come up on plane.  Operator stated he traveled a few hundred feet, and then heard a loud pop and the vessel lost power.  Operator turned around and observed the plastic cowling of the motor was engulfed in flames, which Operator was able to extinguish prior to it spreading to any additional parts of the vessel.   Operator was not wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident, the vessel was equipped with life jackets.  The vessel was equipped with fire extinguishers, and none of them were used either.  He did check the weather prior to departing, and was utilizing a navigational system at the time.  Operator has over 500 hours of experience operating vessels and does possess a boater safety's card.  Operator did not receive any injures.
  
      The vessel is a 2006 Angler 204 FX, which is constructed out of fiberglass. The vessel was powered by a single outboard which was a 2006 150 H.P. Mercury Smart craft.  The engine was a total loss, and was valued at $3000.00 by the owner of Oceanic Boatworks to repair.  There was extensive fire damage to the motor which makes it very difficult to pinpoint the point of ignition.  However there was no smell of fuel present so the assumption is the cause of the fire was electrical in nature.  
  
      The weather conditions at the time of the incident was a seventy five degree ambient air temperature the water temperature of 60 degrees. The wind was light under 10mph out of the south with waves less then 6 inches.  The area in which the accident took place had light boat traffic, and the waters were not treacherous.  
  
      I did make contact with the registered owner of the vessel to assure the owner of the vessel was aware.  Owner was aware of the matter, and left the vessel in the care and custody of Oceanic Boatworks for repairs.  Operator was a representative of Oceanic Boatworks when the incident took place.  
  
      All above events took place in Worcester County, Maryland.
  