ON JULY 21, 2023, OWNER AND OPERATOR WAS FISHING IN THE CHOWAN RIVER ON A THUNDERBIRD VESSEL NEAR CANNON'S FERRY BOATING ACCESS AREA.  AT APPROXIMATELY 1440, OPERATOR WAS ATTEMPTING TO DISLODGE HIS ANCHOR AND HAD THE VESSEL IN REVERSE AND TRIED TO SHIFT THE VESSEL INTO THE FORWARD GEAR. THE CABLE ON THE GEAR SHIFTER BROKE KEEPING THE VESSEL FROM GOING INTO FORWARD GEAR.  OPERATOR PUT THE VESSEL IN REVERSE AND BEGAN BACKING TOWARD CANNON'S FERRY BOATING ACCESS AREA WHERE HE LAUNCHED.  AFTER APPROXIMATELY TWENTY MINUTES, THE VESSEL BEGAN TAKING ON WATER FROM THE STERN DUE TO ROUGHER WATERS.  OPERATOR CONTACTED HIS SISTER WHO CONTACTED CHOWAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. 

CHOWAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT RECIEVED THE CALL AT APPROXIMATELY 1505 AND DISPATCHED THEIR VESSEL TO THE AREA. 

OPERATOR WAS LOCATED AND PICKED UP WEARING A PFD AT APPROXIMATELY 1620 WHERE THE BOW OF HIS VESSEL WAS STICKING UP OUT OF THE WATER.

*****END OF REPORT*****
CHOWAN RIVER
EDENTON                       