Vessel 1 was tied to the dock (in a slip with the dock to Vessel 1's port side) with no one on board when Vessel 2, with seven persons on board, attempted to dock in the adjoining slip (where Vessel 2 would have the dock to its starboard side).  As Vessel 2 attempted this maneuver the Operator looked away for a moment and when she looked back Vessel 2 had gone off course to the starboard side.  The Operator noted that Vessel 2 had just had a new throttle and engine installed and the Operator was not familiar with changes in the operation of Vessel 2 as a result of this installation.  When the Operator of Vessel 2 noticed she was off course, she got nervous and instead of putting Vessel 2 into reverse (as she planned to do) she accidently went into a forward gear, running into a dock cleat and the stern of Vessel 1.  Vessel 1 suffered damage (denting) to the upper middle portion of the port pontoon as a result of the incident.

Although the Operator of Vessel 1 had over 100 hours of boating experience, including over 100 hours experience with this vessel, Operator Inexperience is listed as the primary contributing factor based on her inexperience with the handling of Vessel 2 following installation of its new throttle and engine.
Higginsport                   