Fire sets back boat designer by half-million dollars

A?BOAT?DESIGNER?is counting near half-million dollars in losses after a fire of unknown origin ripped apart his storage shed and boat at the old Mangrove Quarry in St Philip, just after midday.
Little was saved from the fire that took place just outside the community of Harlington.
Val Knowles, who rented the facility for several years, told the DAILY?NATION he estimated the value of the boat at about $300 000 with the structure around $100 000.
The facility was not insured and Knowles, a boat designer and builder, said the incident was a major setback for him.
“It is a big loss. I am going to have to win Lotto and get a fresh start. This is not a good day by any means,” said the Trinidad-born Knowles, a former owner of the Boatyard complex in Bay Street, St Michael.
Two fire tenders, one from the Probyn Street, Bridgetown headquarters, the other from Worthing in Christ Church, responded, along with a team from Roving Response.
Owner of the facility, Ronnie Hunte, was at a loss as to how the fire started.
“I don’t know how this fire started but fires usually start with matches. Whether it started accidentally or purposely, I can’t really say,” he said. (MK)