RedactedNarrative: On 08/01/2015 in the Gulf Of Mexico near Shell Island, slightly east of the entrance channel to St. Andrew Bay, a single vessel accident occurred resulting in a total loss of the vessel and its equipment. 
  
  The vessel operator, along with family passengers, were out for a recreational excursion to view wild dolphins. During the trip, they encountered wild dolphins near the channel entrance, and were following the pod east along the shoreline of Shell Island. While in proximity of the surf line, the boat was caught broadside by a wave and grounded. The propulsion was stalled due to the strike, and the operator could not get the engine restarted prior to catching several additional waves. 
  
  Within a brief moment of time, the boat was washed ashore and completely swamped. Operator and passengers abandoned the boat once beached to avoid casualty in the violent shore break. The operator and several good samaritans in the vicinity attempted to shove the boat offshore and bail as much accumulated water as possible to keep from sinking. Around this time, I was patrolling the Panama City Pass vicinity and was approached by a boat with four people onboard. The operator advised me that a small boat with multiple people onboard, including children, had just capsized and washed onto the beach. I notified the Tallahassee Regional Communications Center (TRCC) and advised of the situation while proceeding to the scene. Upon arrival I found the boat and its occupants onshore with several adult males trying to shove the boat back offshore.
  
  I attempted to get my patrol boat as close as possible to establish communication. However, due to conditions, I was unsuccessful. I remained just outside the surf zone and summoned commercial towing assistance via VHF-16. The local Seatow company responded, and advised they would have vessel enroute. Once on scene, they dispatched a swimmer to make contact shoreside with the victims. They were able to provide communication via handheld VHF radio. Once communication was established, I was able to confirm that no persons onboard were injured or required medical assistance. I also was able to establish that the owner was indeed the operator. We made arrangements to meet with the operator and passengers inside the protected jetty on the island in order to assist with transport back to their hailing port. Upon gathering all personnel and their belongings, it was deemed that the operator declined to have commercial assistance remove the boat, and that he would attempt to do so himself with assistance of friends.
  
  I called officer to come assist with transport of personnel. Once they embarked on their trip back to the landing, I resumed my patrol back outside the pass to observe the operator and his friends attempt to remove the boat. Despite assistance from a good samaritan vessel and several onshore assets, the boat remained stranded. Over the next 24 hour period, the vessel was summarily destroyed by wave action. The vessel remained in this status over the next few months and no recovery was initiated until sea turtle nesting season had expired. The vessel was a total loss, and the owner did not have insurance. the owner calculated the value of the boat at approximately $ 3500.00 USD.