yacht burns at Roche harbor

Nothing lasts forever. You would think at that kind of money they would have included fire protection. Some insurance company is going to hate getting that phone call.
D.D.
 
For the most part most yachts of this size and type (and most smaller boats) do have fire suppression systems in the engine room. In this case it appears that the fire was in the bow/amidships area (could be a galley or laundry there) and was electrical in origin. It would be unusual to have suppression in that area.

One of the issues with modern gas fire suppression is the effect on humans of the gas which displace oxygen. Thus the systems are not in the living spaces. A water sprinkler system might not have done much for this type of electrical fire--I'll leave that to the fire fighters on the forum and would appreciate their comments.
 
We live right above Sea View North where the OA was towed. Right after it arrived the smell was terrible. It covered the entire neighborhood. I can still smell it when I ride my bike along Roedrer avenue. The hull is intact, but above that everything is burned. Terrible loss.
 
Just adding in on the three basic requirements for fire to occur, fuel, meaning anything that is combustible, oxygen and heat. Remove any one element and the fire goes out.
 
I don't think there's much coincidence here as during the summer Ocean Alexander uses Roche to sell boats. Usually there's a raft of them 'Med Moored' near the foot of the dock. Still sort of surprised they were able to move the boats tied next to the one that burned quick enough to contain the fire to one boat.
 
mrw90":q4dc2u6a said:
I don't think there's much coincidence here as during the summer Ocean Alexander uses Roche to sell boats. Usually there's a raft of them 'Med Moored' near the foot of the dock..
Click to expand...

I'd love to see that, I think they're beautiful boats.
 
DuckDogTitus":12cbqmt5 said:
interesting coincidence, there is another OA at Roche right now for sale, its longer and a couple million less.

http://boatwizardwebsolutions.com/pls/s ... chtype=buy
Click to expand...
This vessel you linked to is an "Johnson" built in 1987--vs the boat which burned was a new Ocean Alexander with a price tag of about $8 million. Lots of difference! Johnson is a much smaller company which has not been around as long as Ocean Alexander. Both boats are built in the Orient. Apparently the Johnson was being sold by the Ocean Alexander dealer, and that is why there may be some confusion.

As for what is left of the OA which burned--it is destined for the landfill most likely. No way it could be rebuilt.

Polyester resin saturated material burns very well--better than wood. It is pretty difficult to put out a fire which has this type of head start in a boat. If the fire had started in the engine room it is possible the automatic extinguishers would have put out the fire. (If engines are running they must be shut down, and shutters closed on the air intakes for the extinguishing gas to be effective). This fire apparently was electrical and started well forward of the engine compartments.
 
Hi Brats,

Sorry for the late post because of medical issues, but I've got a couple of photos you might be interested in. Last summer we were cruising with a friend in the San Juans on a 52' Ocean Alexander. The skipper is a friend of the O.A. broker at Roche Harbor. He invited us to tour the 85 footer (in stocking feet of course) and I've never seen such a beautiful yacht. I would have eaten my meals in that engine room! The boat that burned could very well be the same one we toured if it didn't sell last summer, or a replacement.

I just about cried when I saw that it had burned. Click on the following link and you should be able to see the two photos. I just have to learn how to post pictures on this site! https://picasaweb.google.com/kmcclish/O ... directlink

Regards,

Kent McClish
MARCIA JANE
 
Looking at your photos, reading the material from O A about the fire and comparing the photos of the vessel which burned, it appears as if the one which burned was not the same vessel you would have toured. The vessel which burned had aft stateroom ports--the vessel you pictured did not. There seemed to be differences in the superstructure. Most likely the same hull mold was used for both vessels.
 
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