Yacht Lost To Flames At Florida Boatyard

A fire Tuesday morning destroyed a yacht at a boatyard adjacent to the Rivera Beach City Marina, filling the area with thick smoke that could be seen for miles and delaying the return of a cruise ship to the Port of Palm Beach, authorities said at midday. No one was hurt, interim Riviera Beach Fire Chief John Curd said.

Firefighters were called at about 5:30 a.m. to the fire at the Cracker Boy Boat Works, between the marina and the Port of Palm Beach complex, where they found “active flames” coming from inside the boat, Curd said.

He said firefighters decided the boat was lost and did not want to pour water directly on it for fear of causing the jacks supporting it to collapse. They turned their attention to saving other boats just feet away.