On April 3, 2011, Officers were dispatched to a boating accident at Hawks Cay Resort on Duck Key. The accident included a 34' Buddy Davis center console vessel with documentation numbers (Vessel 1). and a 44' sailing vessel (Vessel 2). The owner/occupant of vessel 1 met us at the dock.He explained to us that he went to pull into a slip and the engines had a malfunction and started to go in reverse for no reason. He also explained that his motors were acting up and when he turns the motors on by his key, the port motor immediately goes into reverse even when the throttle shifters are in neutral position. Officer observed owner1 as he turned on the port engine, Mercury Verados with 275 horsepower and the engine did exactly what owner1 said was the problem. They port went into reverse immediately as the key was turned on. This Malfunction caused port stern side of his Buddy Davis center console vessel to collide with stern of Vessel 2. No one was aboard Vessel 2 at the time of the accident but after some investigation Vessel 2 has a documentation number.
MARATHON                      