At the conclusion of my investigation, I determined that operator1 turned off the navigational lights on his ski boat while underway in the middle of the waterway between Yellow Cliffs and Fish City Loop, in an effort to mitigate known mechanical issues with the vessel. 

A flashlight was available to be used to temporarily meet the requirement of a white light aft to be shown from a vessel all around the horizon, but was not utilized until the moment immediately preceding the collision. The evasive maneuver by operator1 in the bass boat avoided a more direct collision with the ski boat. For further, see the Incidental Report IR23-020774

Nothing further to report from this Deputy.

BARTLETT LAKE
Scottsdale, AZ                