RedactedNarrative: On Wednesday July 3, 2019 at approximately 1230 hours, Operator1 launched his 20 foot Wellcraft at 87 Access Area onto the Cape Fear River with three other passengers. This outing was the first time the vessel had been operated since summer 2018. The group departed the ramp and traveled down river with the owner Operator1 operating the vessel. After being on the river for approximately one hour, the operator noticed that the vessel was having difficulty maintaining speed.  Operator1 stated that he began to also notice that the engine was beginning to lose power at times.  
  
  At that point Operator1 decided to begin traveling back in the direction of the ramp where they had previously launched the vessel.  The group was nearly back to the ramp when the vessel again lost power and came to a stop approximately 1,000 yards north of the I95 Bridge.  At this time the operator lifted the engine compartment and discovered that the bilge was completely full of water and the engine was partially submerged.  
  
  Operator1 attempted to restart the vessel with no success.  Shortly after the vessel became unstable and passengers began getting accessible items out of the vessel. Passenger was able to obtain a ski rope and tied one end to the vessel and swam to the bank to secure the vessel.  Two of the passengers were able to access PFDs while the other two were not.  
  
  Operator1 called Cumberland emergency communications and Fayetteville Fire Department was notified of the distressed vessel at 1359 hours.  The vessel eventually capsized and all passengers swam to shore and awaited rescue from Fayetteville Fire Department.  Two Fayetteville Fire Department units arrived at 87 Access Area and launched two small vessels and traveled to the group's location.  Fayetteville units then transported the group back to 87 Access Area.  At 1430 I was notified by WRC communications that a vessel had capsized on the river and that all passengers were accounted for.  I made contact with Cumberland communications at 1432 hours and informed them that I was 10-17 to the area.  I arrived on scene at 1441 hours and made contact with the vessel operator and obtained a brief statement of events from operator/owner Operator1.  I then made contact with the responding Fayetteville Fire Department Officers.  After getting statements from Fayetteville Fire I asked additional questions and conducted HGN to ensure the operator was not appreciably impaired which he was not.  I patrolled with Fayetteville Fire Officials on their vessel to obtain photos of the sunken vessel.  After obtaining these I patrolled back to meet with the boaters involved to continue the investigation.  After speaking with all parties and determining no foul play was involved I asked the owner/operator to fill out a MB 4.1 which he completed.
  
  
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