I heard a call over marine band regarding a vessel sinking in the Bullfrog boat ramp and responded with NPS Ranger.  When we arrived we found a pontoon boat approximately 20 yards from the ramp that was submerged  in the water with a man in the water pulling stuff out.  The vessel was at rest on the bottom of the ramp tied off on one corner to the dock causing no immediate danger so I allowed the man to continue getting stuff off the vessel.  We requested that dispatch contact ARAMARK executive services to assist with the removal of the vessel.  While we waited for them I began the BARD report and found that there was no registration paperwork associated with the vessel showing the owner or that it was currently registered.

Operator statement "We were under way - boat started to lean to starboard- we flag down a passing boat...  They helped us to the dock."  
The story told upon first arrival was that they had just purchased the vessel out of Grand Junction and brought it to Powell for its maiden voyage.  They took it out for a quick run to make sure everything worked and upon return to the boat ramp area it started to sink.  Another vessel assisted by towing them into the dock where the vessel sank with one rope tied to the dock.

Both pontoons had filled with water causing it to sink.  When the vessel was pulled from the water there was no obvious damage to the pontoons to cause it to take on water and the owner claimed that he had all required plugs in the vessel.  Upon further investigating it was found that the deck was deteriorated and there was an opening that went into the open pontoons causing them to take on water and sink.  operator had just purchased the vessel and was not aware of the damage upon purchase.

Upon the vessel being pulled from the water and seeing that the registration stickers were expired I issued a citation for expired or no current registration.

Pictures available

Bullfrog                      