ST. PETERSBURG - A 39-year-old Lakeland man had to jump ship Monday morning after his 34-foot pleasure boat erupted in flames off the northern end of Fort DeSoto Park, fire officials said.
John Bryant brought a life vest into the water with him and put it on about five minutes before he was plucked out of the water by a Pinellas County sheriff's marine deputy, said Lt. Rick Feinberg, a spokesman for St. Petersburg Fire and Rescue.
Bryant told authorities he was running his Rinker Fiesta Vee, named Tempo Fouri, at 20 to 22 knots Monday when he heard the engine sputtering, Feinberg said.
He opened the engine hatch to investigate, saw a fire and went to retrieve a fire extinguisher, but the blaze spread so quickly he didn't get a chance to, Feinberg said.
Instead, he grabbed a life vest and went to his radio, giving a mayday three times, saying his boat was on fire, Feinberg said.
The sheriff's marine unit was alerted to the emergency call, Feinberg said.
The boat was destroyed. It was purchased last year for $87,000, Feinberg said. The fire appears to be accidental, authorities said. The boat was removed from the Gulf of Mexico so authorities can determine what caused the fire.
Bryant had planned to go to Destin to store his boat.
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