RedactedNarrative: On 10/17/2020 at approximately 1200, a recreational vessel (FL3643RV) near Capri Pass with four personnel on board struck a passing vessel wake causing the vessel to veer into the mangroves on the east side of Cannon Island (N 25 59.030 W 081 44.413). There were no injuries. 
  
  I interviewed the operator and he told me that he was cruising north and passed another boat traveling south. He stated that when he crossed the wake of the passing boat, the steering stopped working. He was unable to steer the boat so he came off the throttle, but he could not keep the boat from traveling into the mangroves.
  
  The operator stated that he borrowed the boat from a friend. I had the operator and occupants fill out a sworn statement (see attached). Once Sea Tow arrived I moved the occupants to my vessel. Sea Tow was unable to pull the boat out and called for another boat to assist. I transported the occupants to Pelican Pier and dropped them off.
  
  Sea Tow was able to extricate the vessel with two boats and towed it to Rose Marina.
  
  Based off my investigation I believe that the operator violated navigation rules and did not pass the oncoming vessel port side to port side. The oncoming wake pushed the boat toward the mangroves and due to operator inexperience he was unable to recover. There was no evidence that the steering was inoperable because the motors turned fine when I turned the steering wheel left and right.
  