Kaikoconut Floating Bar Destroyed by Fire, Owners Vow to Rebuild

Glen Hector watched EC$2 million worth of work disappear in under 30 minutes when fire tore through the Kaikoconut floating bar on the night of March 15, 2026. The two-level, 175-person catamaran, fitted with restaurant facilities, waterslides, and a trampoline, was moored off Antigua's southwest coast when the blaze broke out. The vessel was not in operation at the time, and no injuries were reported.

"My boat that took me three years to build, and every cent I had, burnt in less than 30 minutes," Hector said. When he arrived on scene, the Kaikoconut was already fully engulfed. With EC$35,000 worth of alcohol on board, Hector warned bystanders to keep their distance, citing a serious risk of explosion.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Authorities are expected to carry out a formal inquiry, but no official determination has been released. Reporting on the exact night of the fire differs slightly between local outlets, with the Antigua Observer placing it on Sunday night and Antiguanewsroom reporting it occurred late Monday night.

Despite the total loss, Hector said there is "no question" the vessel will return. He has already begun refunding more than EC$120,000 in deposits and is planning to start the rebuilding process imminently. The scale of what he lost in bookings alone is significant: 50 confirmed events, major cruise ship contracts, and 200 people who had been booked for the day after the fire. Kaikoconut had also been scheduled to appear at a leading cruise industry event in Miami next month, where it was set to pitch directly to some of the world's biggest cruise lines.

"I have worked so hard to build up a brand. This year was set to be my best yet thanks to all the events we had booked and the business from the cruise ships," Hector said.

The loss carries particular weight given what it took to build the Kaikoconut in the first place. Hector had operated Creole Antigua Tours for more than two decades before conceptualizing the floating bar years before construction began. When he finally broke ground, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, forcing Creole Antigua Tours off the water entirely and draining his finances. He pushed through materials shortages and supply chain delays, describing the project as "backbreaking" and the "biggest challenge" of his life. The vessel launched in January 2024 and had earned a five-star TripAdvisor rating while drawing hundreds of visitors a week to its offshore position near the southwest coast, reported variously as offshore from Little Ffryes Beach and near Valley Church Beach depending on the source.

In a statement following the fire, the owners described the Kaikoconut as "the heart of Kaikoconut," adding that it held "countless memories of sunsets, music, laughter, and good times shared with so many." They thanked supporters and said, "We will take some time to regroup and figure out our next steps."

Hector's rebuild pledge will be tested against the full weight of that loss, but his track record suggests he has rebuilt from harder starting points before.