RedactedNarrative: There were three other additional passengers that were relayed from the grounded vessel by the USCG vessel on scene.  Their identities are unknown at the time of this report. No injuries were reported.
  
  Operator #1 stated in effect: We were making our way back to Stone Harbor from Wildwood.  We had run aground somewhere near North Wildwood.  I ran the motors in forward and reverse to get the vessel unstuck.  We were able to get floating again and I could feel something was wrong.  The vessel was moving sluggish.  The alarms started going off and that’s when I knew we were taking on water.  I didn't want to take the vessel back to my slip because I was afraid it would sink in the deep water slip.  I called Stone Harbor Marina and got no answer.  My plan was to take the vessel right to the travel lift at the marina but since I could not get in touch with anyone I decided to purposely run the vessel aground on a sand bar to prevent it from sinking.  We waited here and I called TowBoat US.  TowBoat US and the Coast Guard arrived later.
  
  Investigation revealed:
  
  Vessel #1 was traveling in the Intracoastal Waterway in the area of North Wildwood and Stone Harbor.  Vessel #1 ran aground on a sandbar and became stuck.  The operator manipulated the throttles forward and reverse in order dislodge the vessel from the sandbar.  This action damaged the outdrive of the starboard motor.  The outdrive broke and fell out of the hull of the vessel.  Water then began to enter the hull through the hole where the outdrive once connected to the starboard motor.  Water filled the hull and the forward cabin of the vessel.  The operator purposely grounded the vessel on a sandbar near ICW marker 410 to prevent the vessel from sinking.
  
  TowBoat US arrived on scene and assisted with dewatering the hull of the vessel to keep it afloat as the tide was rising.  USCG arrived on scene and assisted with taking passengers from on board to land.  NJSP vessel also transported six passengers to land.  TowBoat US towed the vessel to Stone Harbor Marina and the vessel was removed from the water.
  
  Significant damage to the starboard outdrive was observed.  The starboard outdrive was hanging by two cables.  There was a hole where the driveshaft enters the hull which allowed the water to enter the hull of the vessel.  Damage observed to the propellers on the port motor and outdrive on the starboard motor indicate the vessel struck something while going in reverse.  There was also significant gouges on the starboard propeller and outdrive indicating the vessel had struck something.
  
  Accident Investigation Determined From operator and witness statements, vessel final resting position and damaged observed to vessel.
  
  Summons, failure to register (12:7-34), Stone Harbor Municipal Court
  