Operator said he was cast netting and then drove his boat into Lake Boudreaux to drain the water out of his boat. When returning into Boudreaux Canal, Operator was going around a shrimp boat skimming in the canal when he ran his vessel into the dam to the west of the bridge on Hwy 56. Operator 's boat went over the top of the dam, cracking the bottom of the hull and causing the boat to take on water. As the boat filled with water,  Operator swam to the dam where he held on until the nearby shrimper who witnessed the accident came over and picked him up. Operator was brought to Chabert medical center for x-rays, and it was found that he only sustained minor injuries to his shoulder. His boat was towed to shore by another shrimper in the area.  The boat was inspected, and during the interview operator stated that he was not  wearing a PFD, and he also did not have a department approved PFD in the vessel with im.  He did have one type V (work vest) in the hull of the vessel.  Operator did not show any signs of impairment.  It was noted that the navigational lights on the structure were properrly working at the time of the accident.
Chauvin                       