RedactedNarrative: At about noon on Saturday, July 27th, 2019, Operator1 and Operator2 were the operators involved in a property damage accident in Rock Creek on Tims Ford Lake.  Operator1 was operating his Skeeter bass boat and Operator2 was operating his family''s Mastercraft ski boat.  
  
  Operator1 was operating his bass boat downstream, at approximately 35-40 mph, towards the Rock Creek Boat Ramp from 511 Westwood Ln, Estill Springs.  Operator2 was operating the Mastercraft upstream, at approximately 30 mph, from the Rock Creek No Wake Zone Towards his family''s lake house in Rock Creek.  
  
  Both operators saw the other boat at a distance of approximately 100-200 yards apart.  Operator2 was making the turn on the inside of the curve, which was on his port side.  When Operator1 saw Operator2''s boat approaching, he turned more towards the bank on the inside of the curve, on his starboard side (as closely as he felt comfortable to the bank/docks).  
  
  After a few seconds of the boats headed towards each other, both operators turned away from the inside of the curve at approximately the same time in an attempt to avoid a collision.  Both operators made evasive turns back and forth 3-4 times. 
  
  Both operators evasive turns were made at approximately the same times and kept the paths of the boats in line with each other.  Both operators slowed their boats down significantly throughout this time.  Shortly before the collision, according to his statements, Operator1 let off of his hot foot throttle, turned his boat towards the bank on his starboard side, and threw his hands up.  
  
  Operator1 then closed his eyes and braced for impact when he realized that the Mastercraft was going to strike his boat.  Operator2 also realized that the boats were going to collide and completely let off of his throttle and then put his boat in reverse in an attempt to avoid the collision, but still struck Operator1''s boat.  
  
  Both boats were estimated to be going less than 5mph at the time of the collision.  The point on the starboard side bow of the Mastercraft, struck low on the port side hull of the Skeeter, at approximately the middle of the boat, creating a hole through the fiberglass.  The hole was approximately 4-5” wide and there were spider web cracks in the clear coat in about an 18” circle around the hole.  There were also some scratches from the hole towards the rear of the Skeeter boat for a couple of feet.  Operator1 received an estimate of $3000-$4000 to repair the damage to his Skeeter boat.  The Mastercraft had some chipping of the paint and clear coat on the end of the point on the starboard side bow and a couple of light scratches on the starboard side extending 2-3 feet behind the bow.  Estimated cost to repair the damage to the Mastercraft is $500.  Operator2 was found to have violated 3 of the USCG Inland Navigation Rules:
  Rule 9-Narrow Channels:  Operator2 was nearer to the bank on his port side instead of the bank on his starboard side as the rule requires.
  
  Rule 8-Action to Avoid a Collision:  Although Operator2 did slow down and even put his boat into reverse to try to avoid the collision, he did not slow down soon enough to avoid the striking the other boat.
  Rule 14-Head on Situation:  Operator2 did not immediately turn to his starboard side once a head on situation occurred; instead he waited a few seconds before making the turn.
  