RedactedNarrative: V1 struck piling. 1 occupant ejected and sustained head injuries. 1 occupant sustained rib injuries. Operator uninjured. The men had been snorkeling on a reef in the Atlantic Ocean, East of Elliot Key. They decided to get back on the boat and head towards Fowey Light to continue snorkeling. OP1 was operating the vessel from the helm on the starboard side. VICTIM 2 was standing up between and slightly behind the captain’s chair and passenger chair and VICTIM 1 was sitting on the bow. OP1 stated that he began running North towards Fowey Light and he saw a green channel marker far in the distance along his direction of travel, so he used that as a visual landmark to maintain his course. While running on plane at approximately 30mph, the three men were talking, and OP1 stated that he got distracted by the conversation and failed to maintain proper lookout ahead of him. When he looked forward, the channel marker was directly in front of his vessel. He immediately decelerated and turned to starboard attempting to avoid collision but was unable to due to the speed and proximity of the marker when he finally saw it. 
  By taking action attempting to avoid collision, OP1 decreased the severity of the collision significantly. The vessel’s port side bow struck the channel marker, causing significant fiberglass damage to the gunnel on the port bow and to the chine from midship towards the stern. Upon collision, VICTIM 1 was ejected and hit his head on an unknown object, either the piling or a fixed part of the vessel. He sustained a contusion to his head. VICTIM 2 struck an unknown fixed part of the vessel with his upper torso. He sustained fractured ribs and a punctured and bruised lung. Both VICTIM 1 and VICTIM 2 were transported to Ryder Trauma center in stable condition and are expected to make a full recovery. ; VICTIM 1:Contusion to center of head.; VICTIM 2:Rib tenderness, puncture to lung, bruise lung, rib fractures.
  