A boat was completely destroyed and sunk in a spectacular fire on Saturday evening. Thick black smoke was visible for several miles as Reel Hard, a 20-foot inboard pleasure craft, went up in flames at Ely's Harbour.

Owner Bob Marsch, who escaped from the vessel as it burned, told The Royal Gazette the incident happened following a series of mishaps on board.

Mr. Marsch watched from the shoreline as flames tore into the hull of the fibre-glass vessel, at about 6.30 p.m.

By 6.45 p.m., Fire Service personnel from the Port Royal station had put out the blaze from a Marine Police boat using water pumped directly from the harbour. An expert mariner on the scene said the situation could have been even worse as the boat was likely loaded with as much as 100 gallons of fuel.

Mr. Marsch, a mechanical supervisor originally from Maryland, has lived in Bermuda for seven years. He explained he was on board his vessel preparing it for a day out on the water, and that there had been a fuel tank on board.

"I was changing the fuel filter," he said. "I went to change the spark plug, the wrench broke; I cut my hand and hit a hot wire. There was just enough gas in the bilge to start the fire.

"I grabbed the fire extinguisher and tried to put it out. Everyone was saying: 'Get out of the boat, get out of the boat!' So I got out of the boat."

Mr. Marsch, who was visibly shocked, added: "It didn't take too long. I ain't happy, but I am happy to be here."

Explaining that he knew he had been in an extremely dangerous situation, he said: "I was hoping I could get the fire out, but everyone was hollering: 'Get off!' So, I got off."

While he was talking to The Royal Gazette, the remains of his boat slowly sank into Ely's Harbour until only the bow remained above water. "I'm just glad to be here," he reflected. "S*** happens.

"But I am glad no one was hurt — and I really do appreciate what the firemen did."

He said he had owned Reel Hard for about six years, and he had been hoping to sell it as he was unsure whether his work permit would be renewed.

Fire Service spokesman Lt. Dana Lovell confirmed the vessel was written off and said an investigation into the fire was underway. "The boat was fully engulfed in flames when we got the call, but we were able to get out to it with the assistance of the Marine Police," said Lt. Lovell.

"The boat from what I can tell is a total loss. We're still not sure exactly what caused it. As in any fire, we will investigate. People begin to speculate, but we won't know until we've got all the facts."

Bermuda Police Service spokesman Robin Simmons said there were no suspicious circumstances.