Operator:

On the 27th of may around 4:45pm, me and two of my friends came out the masonboro inlet headed north.  We had some friends out on the beach and we were just going to do a friendly wave.  Running parallel to shore with my bearings telling me we were in deeper water which i was reading 8.5 ft.  All of a sudden we seemed to have run aground.  It was just about peak low tide and that was my negligence.  My port engine stalled and with the volvo diagnostics, you can’t immediately fire the engines.  So with just my starboard engine in play and no bow or stern thrusters, i was in a difficult situation.  I still thought if i could get my starboard engine in reverse, it would swing the bow back to the open ocean and i could maneuver out of any situation.  At this point the current and waves were pushing my bow in shore and all i could do was anchor and hope that it held.  No drugs were on the boat just alcohol.  We all used pfds to get off the boat due to the instruction of the lifeguard and police.

Sr wildlife officer:

On the 27th of may around 4:45 pm operator along with two friends came out of the masonboro inlet headed north in the atlantic ocean.  Operator had been at masonboro island most of the day, having traveled down from southport, nc that morning.  Operator was operating the 51 foot sea ray “always rushing.”  Operator had some friends out on the beach, and stated that he was just going to get close enough to wave at them.  Operator’s vessel was located in close proximity to the johnnie mercer pier.  As operator got closer to the shore he ran aground.  Operator stated that the filter’s on his engine got clogged up with sand and cut out leaving his boat dead in the water.  The current and waves pushed the vessel closer to the shore and johynnie mercer’s pier.  Operator threw his anchor out in order to prevent his vessel from washing closer to the shore and the pier.  The current and waves pushed the stern of the vessel into the pillings of the pier.  No damage was caused to the pier, but operator’s vessel received extensive damage.  Damage occurred to the propeller, shaft, and rudder from the grounding of the vessel.  Damage occurred to the swim platform on the stern of the vessel and rails around the vessel.  This was caused by the collision with the pier.  Operator and both of the passengers used pfds and abandoned the vessel as instructed.  They were subsequently rescued by the lifeguards and police.  Alcohol was onboard the vessel and operator was subsequently arrested for operating a vessel on the waters of this state under the influence of an impairing substance.  During the whole course of action, operator and his passengers were polite and cooperative with emergency services.  Operator’s vessel was salvaged by a tow boat operation.
WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH