RedactedNarrative: On 08/09/2019, I, Cpl. of the Maryland Natural Resources Police, was notified by DNR Communications of a boat accident on Deep Creek Lake. DNR advised the accident was property damage only and the damaged vessel was in tow back to the rental agency "Lake Life" also known as "Deep Creek Marina" in McHenry, MD. I responded to Lake Life boat rentals via patrol vessel and met the rental manager at the facility.
  
       The vessel was a 2018 22' Harris Sunliner 220 pontoon boat. Per the rental agency's contract, only the documented lessee's are allowed to operate the vessel, as they have received operating instructions with that particular vessel and a temporary boater safety certification. The operator of the vessel at the time of the accident was not a registered lessee or operator and advised he had not received boater safety certification or operating instructions. Neither registered lessees were on board the vessel at the time of the accident to assist Operator. 
  
       The accident occurred around 1300 hours at private docks on Deep Creek lake's main body, known as the "Trader's Landing" docks. The vessel was docked on the end of the private strip of docks, with it's port side secured by two lines to the dock cleats. There was a moderate northerly wind pressing the port side of the vessel into the dock as it lay tied alongside. When the occupants returned to the vessel, Operator resumed the operator position and an occupant released the dock lines. Operator advised he was concerned about striking the dock as he pulled away using forward throttle. Operator gave a strong forward thrust of the throttle and caught the bare metal edge of the dock corner on the port aft side of the vessel. 
  
  The resulting strike gauged the metal structure of the under-decking, scraping down the side of the rubber pontoon guard, until the dock corner caught the portside pontoon cap, ripping apart the weld and creating several inches of gap between the metal edges of the pontoon. The pontoon immediately began filling with water through the exposed broken weld gap. By the time the vessel was docked at Operator's private dock at Waterfront Greens, the vessel was listing to the port-side. The occupants all stood on the starboard side of the vessel and called Lake Life rentals for immediate assistance before the vessel sank. An employee of Lake Life was able to quickly get on board the damaged vessel and operate at a fast speed back to the rental dock, preventing additional water from filling up the pontoon and sinking the vessel; the vessel was then immediately pulled from the water and placed on shore. (See attached pictures).
  
       The Lake Life rental agency/Deep Creek Marina, was able to contact the Harris manufacturer company and get a price for the replacement of the port side pontoon, replacement of the rubber pontoon guard and required twelve hours of labor. Barring any unknown structural damage due to the gauges on the under-decking, the cost to repair and replace the vessel damage was $13,600.
  
       If the operator had received the vessel operating instructions and participated in the boater safety certification as the two lessee's did, he would have been able to avoid this collision. Even with moderate winds, a simple technique to avoid striking the leeward side of your vessel against an object would have been to reverse course and turn the vessel to starboard to pull away from the dock, therefore avoiding any possible strike, particularly with the vessel being longer than the actual dock (vessel 22' and dock was 20'). Operator advised that he had some boating experience but had never completed a boater safety course.
  
       Operator was charged with negligent operation of a vessel.
  
  All events occurred in Garrett County, MD.
  