On august 31, 2013, around 8:20pm, vessel 1 was traveling north toward the dam on john h kerr reservoir in little nutbush creek for an evening boat ride.  Vessel 2 was traveling south in little nutbush creek toward steele creek marina.  Vessel 2 was under power not sail as it was making its way to steele creek marina.  Vessel 2 had ran its power source dead to run the navigation light, but clipped a white light to the bow rail of the vessel.  Vessel 2 was operating with an 8 horse power motor and by law was only required to have a white light visible due to the motor being less than 10 horse power.  Vessel 2 tried to turn left to avoid the collision but was limited to mobility due to the vessel being 25 feet long with only an 8 horse power  motor.  The operator of vessel 2 said he was yelling trying to get vessel 1's attention to try to avoid the collision.  The operator of vessel 1 told me he was out for a late evening cruise and looked down to turn the radio down in vessel 1 and when he looked back up, he saw vessel 2 approaching head on.  Vessel 1 turned left to try to avoid a collision with vessel 2 but was too close to vessel 2 to avoid the collision.  Vessel 1 collided with vessel 2's starboard side bow to vessel 1's starboard side bow.  Vessel 1 turned around and came back up to vessel 2 to see if everyone on board was ok.  Vessel 2 received damage to the starboard side gunnel rail and the bow eye. Vessel 1 received major cracks down the starboard side from the bow to the stern through the fiberglass.  Both vessel 1 and 2 operated back to steele creek marina under power.  No one was injured in this case and no charges were made.  Neither vessel was operating recklessly and both vessels had the proper lighting.
TOWNSVILLE