RedactedNarrative: On the evening of June 29, 2016, at approximately 7:15 pm, Officer was contacted by the Raleigh Dispatch.  He was informed that there had been a boating incident where a boat had a problem and was taking on water near Point 5 on Hiwassee Lake.  
  
  Officer launched his patrol boat and proceeded to the location where the boaters were reported to be.  Upon arriving at the scene, Officer observed a Ski boat and six passengers who had pulled the boat onto shore to keep it from sinking.  After towing the boat to Mt. View Marina, Officer talked with the owner and operator of the boat. 
  
  The operator stated that he was cruising on plane at a little more than 40 miles per hour when he struck a submerged log that he never saw.  The log hit the lower unit of the motor's outdrive.  The impact broke the lower unit and bell housing away from the sterndrive. The only thing holding the lower unit in place was the hydrolic arms used to trim and tilt the motor's outdrive.  All the passengers used the lifejackets that were on board and readily accessible.  No injuries to the operator or any of the occupants were reported.