RedactedNarrative: Vessel – 1989, 41’ Lien Hwa Vantare Cabin Motorboat w/2 Caterpillar Inboard Diesel Engines – HP Unknown
  
  On 05/10/2019, at about 11:00 a.m., this vessel was cruising on the Swinomish Channel South, located near La Conner, WA in Skagit County.
  
  According to Operator, he was traveling at about 4.5 to 5 knots in a direction approximately WSW at the above location.  Vessel systems and electronic aids were operating nominally.  Weather was clear, wind minimal.  Tide at the time was +7.0 feet and falling rapidly: it had fallen to 6.7 feet in 15 minutes.  
  
  Operator was concerned that water to his portside was too shallow, so he edged slowly toward the Green (north) side of the Channel.  As he approached marker G”15” within 15-20 yards, he realized that he may be too close to that side of the Channel and began to move toward the portside.
  
  Before he could execute that maneuver, he felt the vessel strike something.  Depth on the digital sounder reported +3 feet, then +2 feet.  He immediately put both engines in neutral while thinking what had happened.  He reversed thrust in an attempt to back out of the situation, but that resulted in another strike.  He then shut down both engines and waited to see what would happen next.
  
  While he was considering what had happened, the current carried the vessel westward and north on the declining tide.  All lateral motion ceased shortly thereafter, and as the tide fell further, the vessel quickly took on a starboard list.  Operator immediately began a series of phone calls for assistance that ultimately resulted in the salvage and towing of the vessel to Pacific Marine boat yard in Anacortes.
  
  Operator noted that his fundamental error was in assuming that a distance of 20 to 25 yards inside the daymarker G”15” would be safe in a tide of +7.0 feet.  In hindsight this was patently wrong.  However, it would be well for advisories to be issued to the boating public that a substantial distance from the new daymarkers in the Swinomish Channel be maintained, even in positive tide levels such as he experienced.   
  
  0 Injuries / 0 Fatalities 
  No Apparent Alcohol or Drug Involvement 
  Estimated Vessel Damage - $10,000
  Operator was Not Wearing a PFD
  Operator Did Not have a Mandatory Boater Education Card
  