PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION REVEALS VESSEL 1 WAS TIED FROM THE BOW AND TO THE END OF A DOCK AT J & J MARINA LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF LAKE TILLERY.  VESSEL 1 WAS FACING EAST LEAVING THE STERN EXPOSED.  VESSEL 1 WAS NOT OCCUPIED AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT.  VESSEL 1 ENGINE WAS OFF AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT.  VESSEL 2 DOCKED AT THE GAS PUMPS AREA TO THE STERN (WEST) OF VESSEL 1 FACING SOUTHEAST JUST PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT.  VESSEL 2 WAS OCCUPIED BY TWO ADULTS AND FOUR CHILDREN.  AFTER FUELING, VESSEL 2 ATTEMPTED TO MANEUVER TO THE OPEN WATER.  AS THE BOW OF VESSEL 2 GETS CLOSE TO THE STERN OF VESSEL 1, THE OPERATOR OF VESSEL 2 STATED THAT HE SLIPPED AND HIT THE THROTTLE CAUSING THE COLLISION.  THE STARBOARD SIDE OF THE BOW OF VESSEL 2 IMPACTED THE STARBOARD AND CENTER OF THE STERN AND MOTOR OF VESSEL 1.  THE OPERATOR OF VESSEL 2 MADE CONTACT WITH THE OPERATOR OF VESSEL 1 AND EXCHANGED INFORMATION.  FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALS THAT VESSEL 2 IMPACTED VESSEL 1 WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE MOTOR COVER, MOTOR INTERIOR, TRANSON, AND STERN AREA OF VESSEL 1.  DAMAGE WAS ALSO ON THE BOW OF VESSEL 2.  THE MOTOR OF VESSEL 1 WAS IN LIKE NEW CONDITION AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT AND WAS PURCHASED WITHIN THE LAST TWO WEEKS.  THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED FROM THIS INCIDENT.  IN CONCLUSION OF THIS INVESTIGATION, THE OPERATOR OF VESSEL 2 WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE IMPACT AND DAMAGE TO BOTH VESSELS AS A RESULT OF THIS INCIDENT.  IN MY OPINION, THIS INCIDENT WAS PRIMARILY DUE TO OPERATOR INATTENTION.  THE OPERATOR OF VESSEL 2 WAS CHARGED WITH CARELESS AND RECKLESS OPERATION OF A MOTOR BOAT.
NORWOOD                       