The boater who was rescued off Bainbridge Island early Monday was apparently under the influence of alcohol when he left Manchester late Sunday, a Coast Guard official said.

Norman Dormat, 60, was found in his 8-foot boat near Restoration Point off the southeastern tip of Bainbridge just before 6 a.m. Monday.

Dormat had been reported missing by rangers at Blake Island State Park  just after 1 a.m. Monday, and the Coast Guard launched a search effort.

A HH-65D Dolphin helicopter from the Coast Guard’s Air Station Port Angeles found Dormat at about 5:50 a.m. May 27, and a Coast Guard boat from Seattle picked up the missing boater soon after and took him back to the pier in Manchester.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Third Class Jordan Akiyama said the man’s wife called authorities late Sunday and said he was overdue.

The boater had earlier spoken with his wife and said he was heading to Blake Island.

“He got off the phone with his wife at approximately 10 o’clock last night and said he was on his way back to Blake Island,” Akiyama said.

The boater went off course, however, and never made it to Blake Island.

Authorities also received reports that Dormat was under the influence when he left Manchester, Akiyama said.

“When we found him on scene he was somewhat in distress. He was disoriented and kind of blacked out,” Akiyama said.

Fortunately, the boater had told his wife about his planned destination, Akiyama said. It’s a lesson that others on the water should heed, he added.

“It’s always good to let someone know where you’e going,” Akiyama said.