RedactedNarrative: Vessel – 2009, 16’ Willie’s Aluminum Rowboat
  
  On 06/23/2018, at about 05:00 a.m., this vessel was drifting on the Stillaguamish River near the Big Eddy launch located near Gold Bar, WA in Snohomish county.
  
  According to Law Enforcement, at about 04:45 a.m. this vessel was launched at the Big Eddy game launch.  Operator and his passenger were intending to drift the river, fishing.  After being underway for about 15 minutes the boat high sided on a rock and began taking water over the low side gunwale.  The boat capsized and both men ended up in the water.   Neither Operator or Occupant were wearing or had access to a PFD.  
  
  Occupant made it to shore.  Operator was found deceased downstream.  Occupant told Officers that he and Operator had floated this section of the river may times before.  He said that after the boat capsized he swam to the nearest shore (river right) and thinks he may have seen Operator surface, but wasn’t sure.  He said that there were no life jackets onboard the boat, or if there were, he was never told where they were kept.
  
  At about 06:20 a.m., Monroe Fire Boat #31 located Operator 3.8 miles downstream.  He was found unresponsive, underwater on a gravel bar in the center of the river.  He was laying face up.  Operator was taken to the boat launch where he was examined by Officers.  He was wearing a black t-shirt, rain bibs and heavy rubber boots.  He was not wearing a PFD.
  
  The boat was not recoverable and could not be inspected.  The current was running at about 5-7 knots.  This stretch of water has many rocks and some whitewater conditions.     
  
  0 Injuries / 1 Fatality
  No Apparent Alcohol/Drug Involvement 
  The Vessel was a Total Loss with an Estimated Value of $5,000
  Neither the Operator/Deceased or Occupant were wearing a PFD
  The Operator did not have a Mandatory Boater Education Card