Rental vessel struck a moored sailboat causing damage.  No injuries reported.
On November 19, 2023, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was dispatched to a vessel hit and run incident. The location was Intracoastal Waterway, near city docks in West Palm Beach. Incident was reported by a witness. He told me that a younger, slender, white male, who was operating a vessel rented hit a moored sailing vessel and left.  Witness told me, he was yelling toward the vessel to come back, but with no result.  He told me, he had a video of the vessel.  However, after review, I was unable to verify the incident, registration of the vessel, or identity of the operator.  
On November 24, owner of the struck vessel, contacted me.  He told me, his vessel suffered damages to the bow, just above the water line, as well as lacerations and strand breakage to anchor’s rod (he lost approximately 12 feet of chain during emergency splice to it, to secure ground tackle integrity).
On December 12, I spoke with general manager of rental livery.  He told me, after speaking with West Palm Beach employees and reviewing boat reports, one of his vessels was likely involved in the incident.  He told me that vessel rented on November 19 returned damaged.  When OP1 was confronted about the damages by employees, he ignored it and walked away. Damages to the rental vessel were to the bimini top.  Damages to the starboard rub rail were also noted on vessel report from previous rental. No other damages were reported.
I reached out to OP1 via telephone.  He declined to comment and denied that incident occurred.

icw
WEST PALM BEACH               