On 8-17-13 (8:45 pm), Operator struck a submerged object with his houseboat.  This accident occurred in Quincy Bay, pool 21 of the Mississippi river. There were no injuries, and all passengers were accounted for.  The damage estimate by the owner was $5000.00.

On 08-18-13, CPO and I CPO were contacted by a citizen as we prepared to launch a Jon boat for a river patrol.  He informed us that there was houseboat sinking in Quincy Bay.  We proceeded to the boat ramps in Kessler Marina.  There blocking the public boat ramps was a houseboat that had struck a submerged object.  The boat was half sunk. 
 
The owner/operator of the houseboat, Operator arrived on scene after a few minutes.  He told me what had happened the night before. On 8-17-13 PM he had been traveling northbound in Quincy Bay and struck a submerged object at approximately 8:45 PM.  He was able to get the boat to the public ramps where he had tied it off.  The boat had flooded with water, filling the engine and bilge area.   There had been nine passengers on board at the time of the accident.  All aboard were able to safely depart the houseboat from the docks.

 On 8-18-13, Operator had been able to check the hull where the damage had occurred.  He found a hole had been punched into the hull that was approximately   8 inches in diameter.   Operator estimated the damage to the boat was close to $5000.00.  Other subjects had gone to the area where Operator''s accident occurred and found an abandoned spud pole, just under the surface of Quincy Bay.  They tied a jug to the pole to prevent further accidents.

The houseboat was left blocking the public boat ramps in Kessler Marina.  On 8-21-13, Canton Marine and Towing used a crane to lift the houseboat out of the bay and place it on a flatbed trailer.  

On 8-22-13, I was able to photograph the damage to the hull of the boat. 
There are 5 photos attached to the Report Beam for this report. 

On 8/25/13, I mailed a boat accident report to the operator/owner.
Quincy