operator AND HIS BROTHER WERE CRUSING DOWN LAKE RHODHISS AT LESS THAN 10 MPH.  operator OPENED THE THROTTLE TO GET THE BOAT ON PLANE.  WHEN THE MOTOR WAS THRUST TO FULL THROTTLE, THE TRANSOM BROKE CAUSING LARGE HOLES IN THE HULL WHERE THE MOTOR IS ATTACHED.  operator BEGAN USING THE TROLLING MOTOR TO TRY TO GET TO SHORE.  ONLY MINUTES AFTER THE HULL BROKE, THE VESSEL SANK LEAVING ONLY THE BOW CAP OUT OF THE WATER.  WHILE THE BOAT WAS SINKING THE TWO OCCUPANTS PUT ON A PFD AND WERE PICKED UP BY A PASSING VESSEL.

THROUGH THE INVESTIGATION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE WOOD INSIDE THE TRANSOM WAS ROTTEN AND HAD DETERIORATED TO THE POINT WHERE ONLY THIN WALLS OF FIBERGLASS WERE KEEPING THE MOTOR ATTACHED.
GRANITE FALLS                 