ON 7/16/2011, AT APPROXIMATELY 3:45PM operator AND HIS TWO FRIENDS WERE FISHING IN ELLIS COVE OF THE NEW RIVER.  THEIR VESSEL BEGAN TO TAKE ON WATER FROM THE STERN.  THE BILGE PUMP FAILED TO WORK ONCE THE WATER STARTED COMING IN THE VESSEL.  THE ENGINE WOULD NOT PROPERLY START EITHER.  THE VESSEL CONTINUED TO TAKE ON WATER TO THE POINT WHICH IT CAUSED IT TO CAPSIZE.  THE MEN WERE THROWN FROM THE VESSEL WHEN IT ROLLED OVER.  THEY WERE ABLE TO GRB TWO USCG APPROVED PFDS.  Operator USED A COOLER AS A FLOTATION DEVICE UNTIL THEY WERE PICKED UP BY RESCUE PERSONNEL.  THERE WERE 3 USCG PFDS ON THE VESSEL, BUT ONE WAS IN A COMPARTMENT AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO REACH IT WHEN THE VESSEL ROLLED OVER.  THE OWNER/OPERATOR HAD AN ODOR OF AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE ABOUT HIS PERSON.  I COULD NOT PERFORM HGN ON HIM BECAUSE HE HAD A DETACHED RETINA BUT HE BLEW A .05 ON A HAND HELD ALCO-SENSOR INDICATING THAT HE HAD ALCOHOL IN HIS SYSTEM.  THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY DRUGS AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES.
SNEADS FERRY                  