RedactedNarrative: SYNOPSIS: 
  
  Houseboat vessel by the name of XXX was being piloted back to Antelope Point Marina when it struck a submerged rock during the de-anchoring process. "XXX" took on substantial amounts of water causing it to sink and submerging the lower portion of the vessel before it came to rest on the lake bed below. 
  
  CONTACT: 
  
  On 07/14/2021 while in a law enforcement training in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, I received a call from Glenn Canyon Dispatch center at around 10:30 AM. They stated there had been a houseboat sink at the mouth of  West Canyon and asked if I could respond. I told them I was in South Dakota and unable to respond. I let them know that if there was anything I could do, to reach out. 
  A few hours later, dispatch called again and asked if I could do the BARD for the accident. I said I could, but they would need to compile all the reports from the responding rangers. 
  
  
  INVESTIGATION:
  
  When I returned to work on 07/23/21 I began my investigation. 
  
  I called the owner of the vessel and spoke to him regarding the incident. He said he would send me his recollection on the accident.(See attached) Operator gave me permission via word of mouth to visit the vessel which had since been pulled from the lake and placed in the dry storage at Antelope Point Marina. He also told me that the neighboring houseboat and ski boats were possibly to blame for the incident. Operator believes the waves from a neighboring ski-boat sized vessel pushed his vessel further on to the beach. Videos were provided of the incident via email, but the videos being taken at night caused them to be dark and hard to see. From what I was able to see, I did not observe substantial wave action hitting the stern of his boat in the video supporting his theory. 
  
  I traveled to the current location of the vessel "XXX" and documented the damage to the hull which lead to the sinking of the vessel. I also boarded the vessel and took pictures of the water damage sustained from the vessel being submerged. (See attached photos)
  
  After I had visited the vessel, I made contact with APEX Pilot services out of the Antelope Point Marina. Here I met with the manager and the pilot of  "XXX" at the time of the incident. They gave me a verbal synopsis of what had happened, provided me with a written statement, and provided a couple of photos. (See Attached)
  
  I reached back out to Owner for the registration and insurance information on the vessel. Insurance for the vessel was obtained (attached), but there was no current registration. Owner states that the vessel was in the process of becoming coast guard registered. 
  
  Glenn Canyon Dispatch had emailed me the reports from National Park Service Ranger, the responding officer. I reviewed his report as well as a couple of other emails that he had provided me. (See Attached). 
  
  I checked the B.O.R. (Bureau Of Reclamation)  web site for lake elevations pertaining to the days of Owner's trip. July 7th - which was departure day, the lake elevation was 3558.88. On July 13th - the day of return, the lake elevation was 3557.50. 
  The lake had dropped 16.56 inches during the six days "XXX" was beached. 
  
  
   CONCLUSION:
  
  During de-anchoring process, "XXX" was stuck on the shore where it had previously been anchored on the 7th of July. When the pilot was finally able to free the vessel, it slid down the rocks causing the heavy bow to quickly depress far enough into the water to hit a submerged rock which in return,  punctured a hole in the hull. The bow quickly returned to floating position and the vessel was able to free itself and make way. Once underway, the pilot recognized that the vessel was taking on water and he then found a safe spot to land the vessel which in return helped it from sinking completely.
   
  There is no evidence that a ski-sized vessel creating waves would make this 100' vessel walk up shore as Owner claims in his narrative of recollection. In the provided clips from Owner, there is not enough evidence or wave action to prove his theory.
  
  The scrape marks in the sandstone from the vessel de-anchoring process match the B. O. R. lake elevation data for the given dates of his trip. This indicates that anchor lines were likely not loosened to compensate for the receding lake levels. 
  
  "XXX" sustained hundreds of thousands of dollars in water damage on the lower level of the vessel, mechanical rooms, bedroom's, and the saloon area to appear to be a total loss.
  
  HIN number is listed in the report -
  It was in the process of undergoing Coastguard registration so no current paperwork for reg.