RedactedNarrative: On 5-15-22, at approximately 2:00PM, witnesses observed a vessel erratically maneuvering around the boat basin at the Ft. Pierce City Marina.  WITNESS 1 described the actions as aggressive maneuvering back and forth in the current which drew her attention.  WITNESS 1 was directly to the south as she watched V-1, try and maneuver into his slip directly across from her.  As V-1 headed west it collided into the bow of V-2.  WITNESS 1 described the collision as violent as she watched V-2 rock back and forth.  As V-1 proceeded west past V-2 it ultimately backed into its slip.  V-1 was co-owned by OP1 who was the operator of V-1 at the time of the collision.  
  I arrived on scene to investigate the collision on 5-19-22.  When OP2 returned to his vessel days after the collision, he found it in disarray.  Items had fallen inside the cabin on the floor, and he realized something had happened.  OP2 started checking around to see if he could determine what had happened.  He asked the dock master and one of the dock attendants by the name of DOCKHAND 1, if he had heard anything.  DOCKHAND 1 reported that he was advised by another staff member that the vessels may have been in a collision.  OP2 also questioned the owner of V-1 and asked if he knew anything which he reported that he did not.  OP2 found WITNESS 1 on the dock to the south and she told him she had seen the collision.  After talking to her, he went to confront the owner of V-1 who was later identified as OP1.  After OP1 denied hitting V-2, OP2 called FWC to investigate.  
  When I questioned OP1 about the collision, he was not sure that he hit V-2, stating “I don’t think I hit it”.  I visited the dock master who told me that his coworker told him he thought they collided but wasn’t sure, so he didn’t pursue it on the day in question.  I visited WITNESS 1 who told me she watched as the vessels collided and that she saw the boats rocking around when they hit.  She watched as OP1’s son jumped off V-1 onto the dock with a line in his hand but the line was not attached at the other end, to the boat.  
  On 5-20-22, I proceeded to the vessels from the water to get a better look at the damage to both vessels.  When I arrived, I saw that V-2 had damage to the bow pulpit and the center keel.  The stainless rub-rail was scratched as well.  I saw fresh damage to the stern of V-1 that was consistent with the damage of V-2.  I photographed the damage of both vessels and departed.  
  My conclusion is, V-1 hit V-2 as it attempted to enter its slip.  The evidence is consistent with the height of damage with the stern of V-1 and the damage to V-2.  The damage to V-1 is fresh and with the witness statements, it’s obvious they collided.  Although OP1 denied the collision his response was “I don’t think I hit it.”  Since WITNESS 1 could not identify OP1 as the operator at the time of the collision no charges will be filed in this case.
  