Operator #1 stated in effect: Pulling into slip at Southwinds Marina, the wind pushed me toward the slips, and I tried to go forward and used too much throttle and hit the piling and other boat.

Investigation at the scene revealed: V1 was inbound from the Forked River to Southwinds Marina -West Dock in Lacey Twp., Ocean County, New Jersey. While attempting to dock his vessel, operator #1 throttled forward carelessly and lost control of vessel #1, proceeded forward, breaking the lower unit skeg off and causing a quarter sized ding in the gelcoat on starboard side of vessel #2, which was moored to the dock and unoccupied. 

Vessel #1 proceeded forward and struck a piling, breaking the piling in half. Vessel #1 continued forward after striking the piling and struck vessel #3 that was moored and unoccupied, striking the starboard side forward the beam causing fiberglass splintering and scrape damage as well as ripping off the starboard line chock. 

As a result of this sequence, Vessel #4, which was unoccupied, was struck by the starboard line chock of vessel #3 causing a quarter size chip in the gelcoat on the port side top of the center console as well as a rip in the canvass cover. No injuries were reported or observed on scene.

 All four vessels remained at Southwinds Marina - West Dock. Additionally, the Southwinds Marina sustained damage to one piling ($500) after it was struck by Vessel #1. Operator #1 was issued summons or 12:7-76 for Careless Operation and admitting to not wearing his emergency shut off lanyard which may have prevented some of the damage caused.

FORKED RIVER
LACEY TWP                     