THE OPERATOR OF VESSEL A, A BASS BOAT, WAS ATTEMPTING TO GET on PLANE. WHEN WATER ENTERED THE VESSEL'S STERN FILLING THE STERN STORAGE AND LIVE WELL COMPARTMENTS. THE ADDED WEIGHT CAUSE THE VESSEL TO SWAMP AND EVENTUALLY SINK TO THE GUNWALE. THE VESSEL THEN ROTATED AND ONLY THE HULL OF THE BOW WAS EXPOSED AT THE SURFACE OF THE WATER. EVERYONE ONBOARD WAS ABLE TO SECURE THEIR PFDS AND GET OFF THE VESSEL SAFELY. VESSEL A'S FUEL CELL AND THREE BATTERIES WERE LOCATED IN THE FAR STERN COMPARTEMENT. THE CAPTAIN AND THREE OTHER PASSENGERS WERE SEATED TOWARDS THE STERN OF THE VESSEL AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. I CONCLUDED THAT THE DISTRIBUTION OF WEIGHT, OUTBOARD MOTOR, AND TYPE OF VESSEL CONTRIBUTED TO THE SWAMPING OF THE VESSEL.
GAINESVILLE                   