I, CPO, received notification of this boat accident on 07/30/12 from Operator1.  I met with Operator1 and Operator2, on 07/31/12 at 8:30 am.  Both vessels were at the residence of the owner of Vessel 1.  

Operator1 said he received a call from his friend, Operator2, at about 10:00 pm on Thursday, July 26 saying that Operator2''s boat (Vessel 2) needed to be towed because the batteries had failed, the boat would not start, and the navigation lights were not working.  Operator1 said he arrived at Long Lake and launched his boat in an attempt to find and tow Vessel 2.

Operator1 said Operator2 had told him he was on the left side of the lake.  As such, Operator1 said he boated along the "right side" of the lake while he looked for Vessel 2.  However, Vessel 2 was facing westward, and Vessel 1 was traveling eastward, so the subjects'' view of "left" and "right" created a situation where Operator1 did not expect Operator2''s vessel to be where it was and, given that Operator2''s vessel had no lighting, Operator1''s vessel struck it on the port side of the bow.  Despite the damage to both vessels, Operator1 was able to tow Operator2''s boat back to the dock.  No one was injured in the accident.  Operator inattention by Operator1 (Vessel 1) and the lack of lighting on Vessel 2 contributed to the collision.  EOR

Ingleside                     