RedactedNarrative: On 03/05/16 at approximately 0630hrs on Lake Hartwell in Anderson County, South Carolina, Unit 1 left Portman Marina and headed west  toward the Seneca river then going left around the larger island directly across from Portman Marina and headed northeast up towards the Highway 24 bridge. There is a smaller island west of the larger island and a shoal marker that lies between the two islands. The distance between the shoal marker and the smaller island is approximately 400 feet. 
  
  Unit 2 was part of a bass fishing tournament with almost 70 boats that launched from Green Pond ramp at 0645hrs. The majority of the fishing tournament boats were passing through the 400 foot wide channel when Unit 1 entered the center of the channel. With boats passing Unit 1on both sides at 30-40mphs, Unit 1turned starboard to East (E) and encountered a boat headed at him. 
  
  Unit 1corrected course to port at which time he was on a collision course in a crossing situation with Unit 2 traveling southeast (SE) who was traveling at 30mphs. Unit 1 was traveling at 25-30mphs. Unit 1was on the port side of Unit 2. Unit 2's passenger V2 PASSENGER1 yelled out a warning and OPERATOR2, the operator of Unit 2, turned to starboard. Unit 1's operator, OPERATOR1, turned to starboard and at this time made contact with Unit 2.
  
  The bow eye of Unit 1 made contact with Unit 2 near the passenger seat. Unit 1 continued to ramp up onto the port side of Unit 2 while sliding towards the stern. As Unit 1 slid back into the water the bow eye caught the gas caps of Unit 2 and hung up there. The resulting damage when Unit 1 re-entered the lake ripped three and a half feet of fiberglass and wood off of Unit 2. The damage went below the waterline and Unit 2 was able to make it to the big island across from Portman Marina roughly 100 feet away while taking on a massive amount of water. 
  
  Unit 1 checked on Unit 2 and offered assistance at that time. Unit 2 then contacted the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. On 3/05/2016 at 0652hrs, LCpl. (reporting officer) took a call from dispatch regarding a boating incident on Lake Hartwell In Anderson County South Carolina. R/O made contact with the operator of Unit 2, OPERATOR2 at 0656hrs and determined there were no injuries but his boat was damaged and taking on water. R/0 supplied him with the contact information for TowBoat U.S. after determining OPERATOR2 was safely on land. R/0 then contacted LCpl. and we both arrived at Green Pond boat ramp at 0738hrs. 
  
  R/0 met with the operator of Unit 1, OPERATOR1. R/O advised both OPERATOR1 and his passenger of their rights and both signed a waiver of rights and gave written statements. LCpl. obtained waiver of rights from OPERATOR2 and his passenger V2 PASSENGER1. R/0 photographed OPERATOR1 (Unit 1) vessel at the Green Pond Landing and then R/O and took an SCDNR boat to the site of the Incident to photograph OPERATOR2 (Unit 2) vessel while awaiting TowBoat U.S.  Both vessels had all required safety equipment and paperwork.
  
  R/O made contact with OPERATOR1 at 1500hrs on 03/05/16 and had him recreate the incident using model boats. Both statements and physical evidence were used to determine that OPERATOR1, Unit 1, was at fault under the 50-21-170 CFR Rule 15. Ticket 811506 was issued.
  