ON THE AFTERNOON OF MARCH 25, 2023, THE OPERATOR OF VESSEL 1 WAS OPERATING THE VESSEL ON LAKE FONTANA NEAR CHAMBERS CREEK.  OPERATOR OF VESSEL 1 REALIZED THE BOAT WAS TAKING ON WATER AND IMMEDIATELY ATTEMPTED RETURNING TO TSALI BOAT RAMP WHERE HE HAD LAUNCHED.  TSALI BOAT RAMP WAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 2.5 MILES AWAY.  APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET FROM THE RAMP, THE OPERATOR OF VESSEL 1 REDUCED THROTTLE CAUSING THE BOW TO SUBMERGE AND VESSEL 1 TO CAPSIZE.  ALL OCCUPANTS JUMPED OFF VESSEL 1 WITH LIFE VESTS ON AND SWAM TO SHORE.  VESSEL 1 SANK WITH ONLY THE CAPSIZED BOW VISIBLE.  THE INVESTIGATION DETERMINED VESSEL 1 HAD A LARGE HOLE IN THE INNER HULL OF THE TRANSOM AND THE BILGE PUMP WAS NOT ON.  THESE FACTORS RESULTED IN THE SWAMPING, CAPSIZING AND SINKING OF VESSEL 1.

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LAKE FONTANA
ALMOND                        