This date at about 17:40 I was informed of a reported vessel taking on water in Hereford Inlet, North Wildwood, Cape May County.  The vessel was reported to be a 20 foot powerboat with a catamaran style hull, one person on board.  It was further reported the vessel was beached on the sand of Champagne Island in Hereford Inlet.  

The vessel was located on the South East side of Champagne Island.  The vessel was observed to be stern to the breaking surf with each wave breaking into the vessel.   Several subjects on the beach were holding the vessel in place while one subject bailed with a 5 gallon bucket.  The bilge pump was observed to be working.  I was informed the motors had been swamped and would not start.  

The tide was on the rise and the portion of the island where the vessel was being held would soon be under the breakers.  The vessel would certainly be swamped again if not removed.  The vessel was swung and held with the bow to the surf.  It appeared to be floating on its own.  The owner requested to be towed out of the hazardous location.  I provided a towline which was secured to the bow eye of the vessel.  The owner and one of the bystanders remained on the vessel for the tow.  Life jackets were worn by both subjects.  
The tide and a moderate wind were both running in an onshore direction.  After traveling only a short distance, about 100 feet, the port side stern of the vessel was observed to begin to go down.  Both subjects were transferred to the State Police vessel.  The vessel began to float with the stern significantly submerged, both motors under water.  As a result of wind and wave action the vessel was forced back onto the beach and held in position by several bystanders.  In the new position the vessel was out of the breaking waves and bilge pumps were observed to be operating.

Sea Tow had previously been called and was en route.  During the time waiting for Sea Tow, about one hour, the vessel was held in place by several bystanders.  The motors would not run but the bilge pump was working.  During this time the tide continually rose and Champagne Island receded.  At high tide, Champagne Island, which is no more then a sandbar in the inlet, is completely covered in water.  
A Sea Tow vessel arrived, NJ4821GM, with Captain at the helm.  I spoke with Capt and informed him of the situation.  He then proceeded into the disabled vessel.  It should be noted that Champagne Island was nearly completely covered with water and the disabled vessel was floating level, very near its waterline.  Operator, who was on board and wearing a PFD stated the deck was clear of water.  The Sea Tow vessel attached a tow line to the disabled vessel’s bow eye and began a slow tow.  A short distance into the tow the port side stern of the disabled vessel observed to begin to submerge.  The tow was stopped and Ed Ryan began to ready his dewatering pump.  The stern of the vessel slowly sank further into the water with the motors submerged.  I took up station along side the disabled vessel and took Operator off his vessel without incident.  Within a few minutes of Operators departure, the disabled vessel capsized and remained floating with just the twin bows above water.  

The capsized vessel was towed to the dock at Dad’s Place Marina, Lower Twp, Cape May County and secured there in it’s capsized position.  Over the next several hours Sea Tow personnel used inflation bags to refloat the vessel.  By 9:30 pm the vessel was righted and dewatered.  No holes were located in the hull.  It appears a large volume of water was trapped forward inside the hull.  As froward momentum was applied during tow operations, this water seemed to move to the port side hull and collect in the stern.  The vessel then became unstable and would sink by the port side stern.  Work had been done by the owner to replace a fuel tank in the port side hull.  I was informed some of the floatation foam in the hull had been removed at the time.

North Wildwood                