Article from: Ocean City Sentinel-Ledger, Weekend Edition, Friday, August 28, 1970
Explosion and fire aboard Flying Saucer reported caused by a ruptured fuel line
By Thomas L. Watkins
Gasoline leaking from a ruptured fuel line that was ignited by a spark in the bilge has been listed as the probable cause of the explosion that severely damaged the sightseeing speedboat “flying Saucer” Thursday night.
Captain Chris Montagna, skipper of the craft, said he was extremely thankful that none of the 117 people onboard were seriously injured or drowned in the blast. Twenty-three people were treated at Shore Memorial Hospital for shock, exposure, and minor scrapes and bruises.
Already rebuilding has begun on the 75 foot converted World War II PT boat. Workman at Chris’ dock are tearing out the burned and splintered sections of the decking trying to salvage ventilators and what other pieces of metal they can.
Montagna said the fuel line ruptured at the base of the third or middle engine. The vessel is powered by three 1800 horsepower Packard marine engines. Two of the engines were replaced last winter. “The gas, about 10 gallons of it, ran forward of the engine where a spark set off the explosion.” Montagna said.
Montagna said the boat would be rebuilt with a redesigned stern to meet new Coast Guard safety requirements. He said all rubber hose would be replaced with tubing in line with Coast Guard specifications. Damage from the fire was estimated at $20,000. Montagna said the boat would be in operation by next summer.
George Holtz, owner of Holtz Boat Works, Tuckahoe, said damage to the engine involved in the fire was minimal. “It was scorched a little and wiring burned, but it can be made good as new,” Holtz said.
Montagna said he had no advanced warning of the impending explosion as the boat cruised slowly down the Beach Therefore past the Yacht Club. The speedboat was going out for its regular nightly 7 PM run in the ocean. As soon as the blast occurred, Montagna said he turned the wheel toward the Yacht Club dock and pulled and pulled two switches that set off the CO2 fire extinguishing system in the engine room.
“I had to shut the engines off several yards from the dock,” the skipper said. “I could have made it, but was afraid from running over the people who were jumping from the boat.
All but three of the 116 passengers jumped from the boat to the Yacht Club duck where they were pulled out by Club members and volunteers. Other s were picked up by passing boats.
Although the fire was nearly out the Coast Guard continued to drain fire extinguishers on the back of the boat. A fire department pumper at the duck finished the job when the Saucer was towed in shore by the Coast Guard.
In addition to local ambulance, Rescue squads from Sea Isle City, Somers point, and Tuckahoe were called to transport the injured to the hospital. Some ambulances carried at many a four people at a time.
Miraculously, none of the injuries were serious and only one person, Mrs. Gertrude Günter, 70, of Quakertown, Pa., was admitted for observation. She had complained of a shortness of breath. The other 22 passengers were treated in the hospital emergency room and released.
Some of the passengers who jumper in the water climbed out on ducks, walked back to their cars and went home. A few called police headquarters later to say they had been on the boat and were safe. Officials feared that without an accurate head count some of the people could be lost in the water without anyone knowing it. A Coast Guard helicopter scanned the darkening bay waters looking for survivors for nearly an hour after the mishap.
Mrs. William Gilmore of Greenbelt, Md., said she was momentarily stunned after the explosion. “I didn’t know whether to jump with my four-year old-son,” she said. “We were sitting near the back of the boat and had to do something.”
They jumped in the water and were picked up a short distance away by a passing boat. Mrs. Gilmore was treated at the hospital for minor injuries. Francis Larkin, visitor from Pittsburgh said the explosion sounded like an engine backfiring. “I looked back, and boards were flying all around. The shock felt like a torpedo hit the boat. A ball of fire enveloped the back, and the captain headed the boat to shore, but couldn’t make it,” he said.
“There was panic and screaming, it appeared that most people were reluctant to jump, with the hope that the captain could get the boat to the dock,” Larkin said.
One teenage girl said she was sitting in the second row from the back of the seats, "we heard this big boom, and somebody got pushed into me. I saw part of the hatch go into the air, and part of it came down and hit me in the head. I was very lucky. All I got was a headache”.
Mayor, Robert L. Sharp was a spectator on the Yacht Club dock and said he was impressed with the job done by the Coast Guard and the city’s Fire Department. He also extended thanks to the Rescue Squads that participated and to the City’s Civil Defense unit that supplied blankets for the injured passengers.
The Yacht Club opened its facility to all the victims and those involved in the rescue work. Refreshments were served from the club’s kitchen. Singled out for their efforts in the rescue were five youths who jumped into the bay several times to pull people out of the water. They were Rick Sagerholm, Gene Pilot, Chris Walben, J. Chuck Schuck, and Dick Connolly.