INITIAL CALL:

At approximately 1015 hrs on 9/26/13 I was contacted by NPS dispatch and informed that a vessel had just been reported capsized in Last Chance Bay.  Dispatch stated the reporting party was aboard the houseboat "Summer Solstice".

RESPONSE:

I responded to my patrol vessel and then to Last Chance Cyn.  As I approached Last Chance Cyn NPS dispatch informed me that Summer Solstice had just called them and told them that due to the wind and waves they had just cut the line the had been towing the capsized vessel and were heading back to the marina.  I asked dispatch to have them meet with me on the lake before they continued to the marina as I was only a couple minutes from their location.

ACTION TAKEN:

I met with Summer Solstice in Last Chance Cyn and had the owner of the capsized vessel come aboard my vessel to discuss the incident.  subject boarded my boat and informed me that they had been towing his ski boat behind the houseboat.  He stated he had put the covers on the boat to help prevent waves and water from going over the front/sides of the vessel while being towed.  He stated that he was watching the ski boat as they headed out from their camp location into the main channel of Last Chance Cyn.  He stated he went to use the restroom and upon returning to check on his vessel it had become swamped and capsized.  Due to the large waves and wind they had decided they just needed to boat to the marina.  I got some information from subject and then took him back to his houseboat.  I told him I would try to tow his vessel over to shore so it could not sink to the lake bottom while the salvage company he had contacted was coming to retrieve the vessel.

I then located the vessel in Last Chance Cyn.  It was upside down with just the keel and propeller protruding above the water surface.  I was able to attach a tow line and tow the vessel to a nearby shoreline, where I left it.  I gave NPS Dispatch GPS coordinates of the vessels location to pass on to the salvage company and after getting the vessel bow numbers I cleared the scene.