On 04/05/2013, at about 1:00 a.m, a 1967, 34' Pace Maker wooden cabin motorboat was southbound in the Snohomish River to the northwest of the Everett Naval Station, in Snohomish county, WA. The operator, turned west thinking he was farther to the south than he was and hit Jetty Island. The boat became grounded and began taking on water. 

The Everett Police Department reported receiving the BAR from Operator on 04/30/2013. On review of the BAR it was noted that Operator stated there were missing or inadequate aids to navigation. When the Officer responded to assist Operator at the time of the incident, all of the aids to navigation were in working order. Operator also stated in the BAR that he does not have a mandatory Boater Education Card which is required by Washington state law based on his age. The officer attempted to get additional information from Operator on the night of the collision, but due to Operator' extreme level of intoxication, was not successful. 

Based on what the Officer observed on the night of the collision and from  the review of the BAR, an infraction was mailed to Operator for the lack of a mandatory Boater Education Card and expired registration (6/2012). Operator, in his BAR and on the night of the collision identified himself as the operator of the boat. 

The Officer reported that after reviewing the BAR and from his observations on the night of the incident, the proximate cause of the collision was negligent boating by Operator.  The channel is well marked and there is ambient light coming from the Navy Base that allows you to navigate safely.  A reasonable boater should have been able to safely navigate the channel under the conditions that evening.  Operator stated in the BAR that he was not drinking at the time of the collision.  The Officer reported that on the night of the incident,  Operator was extremely intoxicated when he contacted him, to the point of vomiting and having difficulty standing.  Operator told the Officer that he started drinking once the vessel was already on the rocks.  The Officer was unable to develop Probable Cause for BUI due to the time from the collision until he arrived on scene. 

No fatalities or injuries. 
Alcohol use at the time of the incident is unknown. 
Damages to the vessel were reported at $2000. 
The operator reported wearing a PFD.
The operator did not have a mandatory Boater Education Card.
Rules of the Road Violation - Negligent Boating (not cited).
Everett