The brand new Hinckley T34 was in the middle of three days of sea trials when it was destroyed in a marina fire
American powerboat manufacturer Hinckley has been left “pretty shaken” after a marina fire destroyed one of its newest models.
The brand new Hinckley T34 was in the middle of three days of sea trials when the fire broke out at Dysart’s Great Harbour Marina in Maine on Monday night (9 February).
The Ellsworth American reports that an on-board space heater was the most likely cause of the blaze, which is now under investigation.
Sam Chisholm, chief of the Southwest Harbour Fire Department, told the news provider that the marina fire was so ferocious that all his men could do was contain it, despite using 4,000 gallons of water and foam during their 90 minutes on the scene.
“We never really knocked it down. We contained it. [The boat] was gone before we got there. Fibreglass just doesn’t go out, especially when there’s fuel involved,” he said.
Firefighter Jack Martel later praised the efforts of his colleagues who had to deal with a snow-covered marina and sub-zero temperatures. No injuries were reported.
The Hinckley T34 that was lost to the marina fire had an estimated retail price of $600,000 (£400,000) and was believed to have 100 gallons of fuel on board at the time.
Powered by twin Hamilton jet drives, this 34ft model was expected to achieve a top speed in excess of 30 knots during its sea trials.
