RedactedNarrative: On July 23, 2022, at approximately 1200, a 16-foot Hewes brand aluminum boat equipped with a 110hp outboard jet motor, took on water and flipped on the Yellowstone River approximately 5 miles East of the East Bridge Boat Ramp near Lockwood Rd. in Billings, MT.
  
  The Operator (O1) and second occupant (O2) were fishing the Yellowstone River and were attempting to anchor up when the incident occurred. O1 dropped anchor in a calm section of the river, initially dropping an anchor off the bow. After dropping the first anchor, the vessel continued to drift downstream so O2 dropped a secondary anchor off the stern. With the secondary anchor, the vessel was successfully stopped for a brief period. Eventually the anchors turned loose, and the vessel started drifting again. O1 instructed O2 to pull the stern anchor while he pulled the bow anchor. While pulling in the stern anchor it got hung up on the river bottom, consequently pulling the rear starboard corner of boat closer to the water. It was apparent to O1 that the boat was going to take on water if the stern anchor line was not turned loose. O2 turned the stern anchor line loose to free the vessel, when doing so the remaining 30’ of line quickly began leaving the boat with the anchor. It was at this time O1 recognized that the anchor line had a significant knot in it, without enough time to react, the knot snagged a cleat on starboard side stern effectively pulling the boat down past the water line. Within seconds the boat started taking on water. O1 instructed O2 to immediately jump off the vessel and swim to shore. Soon after, the boat took on enough water that it began to flip at which point O1 then jumped into the river and swam to shore to meet up with O2. Once the boat flipped upside down, it created enough drag that the cleat gave way and broke off where the rope had snagged it. O1 and O2 were able to locate the vessel shortly after, flip it back upright, and with the help of another vessel were able to tow it back to the boat ramp. 
  
  At the time of the incident, neither O1 or O2 were wearing PFD’s though stated that the vessel contained 3 PFD’s and 1 Throwable PFD. No injuries occurred during this incident.