An electrical malfunction in the navigation controls may have sparked the blaze that caused an estimated $100,000 in damage, Oceanside fire Battalion Chief Greg deAvila said.
Several people called 911 shortly after midnight to report the fire at T-Dock south of the boat launch area. Firefighters hauled hose lines down the dock and a Harbor Police rescue boat assisted, deAvila said.
The crews protected adjacent boats while other crews doused the flames in eight minutes, deAvila said. Firefighters then searched the charred and smoky fishing vessel but found no one onboard.
DeAvila said the fire appeared centered near the aft navigation controls, leading the fire investigator to believe it could have been caused by an electrical problem.
Flames did not reach the engine room or fuel tanks so environmental damage was limited, the battalion chief said. He said harbor police helped move the boat to an area where it would be easier to continue the investigation.
The name of the boat and its owner were not immediately released because the owner had not been contacted.