RedactedNarrative: On January 4, 2018 at approximately 5:00pm operator was operating a 17' tiller handle steered vessel in Upper Grand River alone.  While traveling East, he hit a submerged object.  This caused the vessel to turn hard to the Starboard side and then back hard to the Port side.  Water from the wake crested the gunwale and the vessel capsized.  Operator was able to swim to safety and was rescued by a passerby.
  
  The vessel that he was operating was recently built at the end of December 2017.  Operator had begun the homemade vessel inspection process, but the vessel had not been issued a certificate of number and decals.  Attached is the materials list for the vessel, along with the outboard's statement of origin. 
  
  Operator stated that he was wearing a PFD (type III) and kill lanyard.  The use of drugs and alcohol is not suspected.  The area in which he was operating has several larger logs close to the bank and is also a tributary of the Atchafalaya River.  Due to these factors, submerged and observed driftwood /debris can be present.  Operator stated that he was traveling at approximately 20mph, a cautious speed.  Operator also stated that the outboard did not kick-up when it struck the object, as most do when the motor is in the unlocked position.  This may have been the biggest contributor to the cause of the accident.  It is unknown whether or not the motor was in the locked position due to it being unrecoverable.
  