RedactedNarrative: Vessel – 1997, 16’ Hewescraft River Runner Aluminum Open Motorboat
   
  On 08/18/2016, at about 08:00 a.m., this vessel was drifting on Birch Bay near Birch Bay State Park located near Blaine, WA in Whatcom county.
   
  The Operator told Law Enforcement that he and the two other men (no information provided) were crabbing in about 50 feet of water, out beyond Birch Bay when a rope became entangled in their outboard motor propeller.  
   
  One of the men had just freed the rope from the motor when a wave broke over the stern and swamped half of the boat.  A second wave then submerged the stern, lifting the bow out of the water to vertical.  As the boat was rolling over, one of the men was able to grab a hand-held air horn.  The horn alerted a nearby boat (no information provided) who pulled them out of the water without injury.  
   
  0 Injuries / 0 Fatalities
  No apparent alcohol involvement
  Vessel was a Total Loss – Estimated value of $6,000
  All three men were wearing PFDs.  
  The Operator did not have a mandatory Boater Education Card – Exempt by Age
  