RedactedNarrative: While going out the Masonboro Inlet in an eastern direction, the operator stated that the sun was directly in his eyes and was having a hard time seeing the channel markers.  Operator thought that he saw the green channel marker to the left of him and turned vessel 1 towards the sign.  Unknowingly the sign that Operator saw was a caution sign.   Operator then hit a submerged concrete seawall.  Operator immediately put on a PFD and radioed to the USCG Station Wrightsville Beach that his boat was taking on water and he needed assistance.  A Coast Guard vessel was dispatched and Operator was able to step onto the Coast Guard boat before vessel 1 sank.  Operator was taken to the Coast Guard Station and assisted by American Red Cross.  Vessel 1 was then pushed off the concrete wall by the waves and sank. Tow Boats US was then contracted to remove the vessel from the waterway.
   