The latest local reports say there was an escape hatch, but most likely no one reached it in time. Most likely asleep. 34 souls perished. Very sad.

I heard five crew escaped overboard and survived.

We stay on our boats over night/weekends regularly and I am always concerned w/that.

Remember the wreck in the Keys, I think the Atocha, Mel Fisher and son was diving on 30 yrs ago?
Two or three boats anchored together, over night, one sprung a catastrophic leak and took down one of Mel’s sons and his girlfriend as I recall.

Can get ugly in a big hurry.
Especially as fast as fire spreads on a boat.

RIP to all involved.

The total for excursion was 39 persons. There were 6 crew including captain. One crew member did not escape, the captain was the one who called Mayday, he and 4 crew members then got on a dingy that was tied to boat. The 5 took the dingy out to another yacht that was was anchored about 500 yards away, they pounded on the side of hull to get their attention. The captain of that boat took them on and then continued communication with authorities. This is what has been reported locally.

My extended family live in that area and many of them and friends of mine have been on that exact boat. They had a reputation as a top notch outfit and (like all friends say) there wasn’t a better captain anywhere.

But investigation shows on its sister ship that the design is just too archaic. It’s pitch black down there and no way to find a light switch in a panic with only two small exits that were already blocked off.

Speculation at this point is propane leaked from the galley (propane is heavier than air) and settled in the bottom ignited old wiring that couldn’t handle 30 phones plugged into it.

Tragedy.