OPERATOR OF VESSEL 1 WAS FISHING ON THE PAMLICO RIVER.  A THUNDERSTORM CAME UP AND OPERATOR'S BOAT STARTED TAKING ON WATER.  WHILE TRYING TO GET BACK TO THE LANDING, THE BILGE PUMP QUIT.  OPERATOR MADE IT BACK TO THE RAMP, TIED HIS BOAT TO A BULKHEAD AND BACKED HIS TRAILER DOWN.  A NEIGHBOR CAME OUT TO HELP KEEP HIS BOAT FROM BEATING AGAINST THE BULKHEAD DURING THE STORM.  WITH THE HELP OF A RESIDENT AT AURORA BEACH, THEY WERE ABLE TO PUSH THE BOAT OFF.  OPERATOR ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE BOAT ONTO THE TRAILER.  UPON MAKING HIS TURN, A WAVE CAME OVER THE SIDE OF THE VESSEK AND IT FILLED WITH WATER.  THE BOAT HAD TAKEN DAMAGE BY THE BULKHEAD.  IT WAS RETRIEVED LATER THAT MORNING.  THE BOAT APPEARED TO HAVE PAINT DAMAGE FROM THE SANDY BOTTOM AND FROM A POLE OUT FROM THE RAMP.  GAUGES WERE FULL OF WATER AND SEVERAL ITEMS HAD FLOATED AWAY FROM THE BOAT.  SEVERAL PFDS WERE RECOVERED.  OPERATOR WAS WEARING HIS PFD.  NO ALCOHOL INVOLVED.
AURURA                        