ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2009 AT APPROXIMATELY 4:45PM operator WAS OPERATING A 27 FOOT BAYLINER CLASSIC CABIN BOAT ON THE CHOWAN RIVER.  ON BOARD WAS ONE FAMILY MEMBER.  THEY WERE MOTORING PAST MARKER NUMBER TWELVE WHEN THE LOWER UNIT OF THE INBOARD - OUTDRIVE ENGINE STRUCK A SUBMERGED OBJECT.  ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR OF THE VESSEL, THE BOAT WAS BEING TRACKED AT 19.2 MPH BY AN ONBOARD GPS.  ALSO, THE OPERATOR STATED HE NOTICED THE DEPTH OF WATER WAS JUST OVER FOURTEEN FEET AT THE POINT OF IMPACT.  THE OBJECT THAT WAS STRUCK WAS NEVER SEEN BY THE OPERATOR OR THE PASSENGER.  AFTER IMPACT, THE VESSEL BEGAN TO TAKE ON LARGE AMOUNTS OF WATER.  THE BILDGE PUMP HAD TO BE CONSTANTLY RuN IN ORDER TO KEEP THE BOAT AFLOAT.  THE VESSEL HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST BOATING ACCESS DUE TO ENGINE FAILURE FROM THE IMPACT WITH THE SUBMERGED OBJECT.  AFTER PUTTING THE BOAT ON THE TRAILER, FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED NUMBEROUS SHAFTS, BRAKETS, SEALS, AND HOSES HAD BEEN BROKEN OR DAMAGED ON IMPACT.  THE LOWER UNIT OF THE MOTOR HAD TO BE TIED UP TO THE STERN OF THE BOAT TO KEEP IT FROM COMPLETELY FALLING OFF THE BACK OF THE BOAT.

A CONCLUSION WAS MADE THAT HIGH WINDS, ROUGH WATERS, AND CLOUDY CONDITIONS, WHICH WERE PRESENT THAT DAY, PREVENTED THE OPERATOR FROM SEEING THE SUBMERGED OBJECT.  THE VESSEL WAS EQUIPED WITH NINETEEN TYPE TWO AND THREE COAST GUARD APPROVED LIFE SAVING DEVICES, SIX TYPE FOUR COAST GUARD APPROVED LIFE SAVING DEVICES, AND TWO B-1 FIRE EXTINGUISHERS.  NO SAFETY EQUIPMENT WAS USED.  NO ONE WAS INJURED.  NO DRUGS OR ALCOHOL WERE PRESENT ON BOARD THE VESSEL.  NO PERSON ON BOARD THE VESSEL WAS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ANY DRUGS OR ALCOHOL.
COLERAIN                      