THIS VESSEL WAS NOT SEAWORTHY BEFORE THE SWAMPING. THE TRANSOM IS ROTTEN AND THERE IS EVIDANCE OF OLD IMPROPER REPAIRS TO THE HULL. THE MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS ARE LOOSE, AND THE WATER LINES THAT FILL THE LIVE WELL LEAKS. iT IS THE OFFICERS OPINION THAT WATER ENTERED THE VESSEL THROUGH THE TRANSOM AND SWAMPED THE VESSEL. THE VESSEL HAD BEEN BEACHED OVER NIGHT ALLOWING THE SMALL LEAKS TO LET A LARGE  AMOUNT OF WATER INTO THE VESSSEL. WHEN THE OPERATOR ATTEMPED TO GET ON PLANE ALL OF THE WATER IN THE HULL MOVED TO THE STERN OF THE VESSEL. THIS LOWERED THE STERN OF THE VESSEL BELOW THE WATERLINE, ALLOWING WATER OVER THE GUNWELL AND SWAMPING THE VESSEL. AFTER THE VESSEL SWAMPED THE OPERATOR SWAM TO THE EAST BANK OF THE LAKE AND WALKED TO THE BOAT RAMP ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILE AWAY. OFFICER DID NOT STATE WHAT THE COURTESY NOTICE WAS ISSUED FOR. ALCOHOL WAS NOT A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT AND ONLY PERSON ON BOARD WAS WEARING A PFD.
GOLDEN POND                   