RedactedNarrative: On June 21, 2014 a single vessel accident occurred on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) within the City of Ponte Vedra, St. Johns County Florida. V1 a 22 bowrider occupied by an adult male, female and five juveniles. V1 was northbound on the ICW operated by the adult male when they impacted V2 a 28 bowrider hanging in a boat lift and dock adjacent to the channel. V1 and V2 sustained extensive damage from the impact. No injuries were received by the occupants of V1 
  
  Investigative Report 
  On 6/21/2014 at approximately 5:30 pm FWC Officer and I were dispatched to a single vessel accident on the ICW behind the residence of 125 North Roscoe Blvd in Ponte Vedra. 
  We arrived at 125 North Roscoe Blvd the residence of Owner2 whose vessel was struck as it was hanging from its lift at his dock on the ICW. I observed V1 tied to the neighboring dock and the damage to V2 as it was hanging from its lift. Ofc. photographed both vessels as they were. I contacted the two adult occupants of V1 who were still on the dock; the five juveniles had been taken away from the scene by others. I conducted a boating safety inspection on V1 and found the following results/violtions: 
  1) Operator1 stated he purchased the vessel several months ago but did not have the bill of sale (violation) 
  2) Operator1 was operating his vessel after 30 days from the purchase date without a Florida registration ( violation ) 
  3) all other boating safety requirements for V1 were in compliance 
  4) Operator1 was verbally warned for the above two violations 
  I conducted a recorded interview of Operator1. Through out my interview I learned the following facts: 
  
  1) 5 kids, a subject, and Operator1 were tubing earlier in the day on V1 
  2) They took shelter under the Palm Valley Bridge during a thunderstorm 
  3) Operator1 was the operator of V1 and they were headed north to either put V1 on the trailer and end the day or pick up more people and stay out tubing (confirmed by subject prior to Operator1's interview) 
  4) Operator1 and Subject were in conversation over what they were going to do for the rest of the day just before impact 
  5) It was raining and Operator1 was having trouble seeing out the windshield of V1 
  6) There was a lot of vessel traffic in the area 
  7) Operator1 thought he was in the middle of the channel when he struck Owner2's vessel and dock 
  8) The impact surprised Operator1 because he didn't see it coming and made no evasive actions 
  9) Operator1 was traveling approximately 22 mph 
  10) Operator1 has never taken a boating safety course 
  
  End of Operator1's interview. 
  
  I also conducted a recorded interview of a person whose property was damaged by the collision from V1. Through out my interview i learned the following facts: 
  
  1) Subject was on his Back porch and heard an "explosion" 
  2) Subject ran towards the sound and found that his vessel and dock had been struck by a white ski boat 
  3) EMS responded but provided no treatment due to no injuries beyond first aid 
  4) Subject observed an adult male sitting in the operators seat after impact 
  5) teenage occupant (personally known by Subject) told Subject (prior to our arrival) that Operator1 and Subject were passing a phone back and forth and when Operator1 looked the boat house was right in front of them. Operator1 turned the wheel but it was too late 
  6) Subject noticed heavy vessel traffic in the area 
  
  End of Subject's interview. 
  
  Through My training and experience and the details of this single vessel accident investigation I came to the following conclusion: Operator1 was the operator of V1. Operator1 violated several navigational rules ( #'s 2,5,6 7, and 8). I cited Operator1 for navigation rule number 8 (action to avoid a collision) and warned him for the others.