VESSEL 1 WAS A 26' MASTERCRAFT OPEN MOTORBOAT WITH 2 PEOPLE ON BOARD.  OPERATOR WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET OFF OF THE SHORELINE IN A NORTHEAST DIRECTION WHEN HE HIT A SUBMERGED ROCK IN THE AREA OF FIRE BOWL COVE.  OPERATOR STATED THAT HE WAS TRAVELING ALONG THE SHORELINE IN ORDER TO STAY OUT OF THE WIND WHICH WAS CREATING CHOPPY WATER IN THE MAIN CHANNEL.  OPERATOR ESTIMATED THAT HE WAS TRAVELING AT 18MPH AT THE TIME OF THE COLLISION.  THE PASSENGER WAS SITTING IN A REARWARD FACING SEAT NEXT TO THE OPERATOR'S CHAIR.  UPON PERFORMING A VESSEL INSPECTION, NPS DISCOVERED THAT THE VESSEL WAS NOT EQUIPT WITH A TYPE 4 THROWABLE FLOTATION.  OPERATOR WAS CITED FOR NOT HAVING A TYPE 4 THROWABLE FLOTATION.  NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED.  ESTIMATED DAMAGE TO THE VESSEL $4,000.00, SCRATCHES TO FIBERGLASS HULL, PROP BLADE DAMAGE, POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO SEAL BETWEEN ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND PROP SHAFT.
HENDERSON                     