RedactedNarrative: On July 28, 2017 at 1000 hours I received a call from Park Manager that he had received a third party report of a sunk vessel in the area of Lookout Point at El Dorado Reservoir.  I advised I would investigate. 
  
   I arrived to the area of Lookout Point at 1030 hours and observed a vessel with the top 5 feet of the bow sticking out of the water.  I went to my patrol boat to investigate further.  I arrived by boat at the scene at 1100 hours and observed a cabin cruiser boat had sunk in about 10 feet of water.  The KA numbers were visible on the side.  About 5 feet of the bow of the vessel was above the water and the vessel was standing upright.  
  
  I called the registrant’s number with no answer and left a voicemail.  A few minutes later my call was returned.  I advised Owner who I was and asked if he knew where his boat was.  Owner advised it was at El Dorado and it had sunk on him the previous night.  I asked if anybody was injured and Owner advised me he was alone and not hurt. 
  
   I asked Owner why it wasn''t reported to anyone this happened and Owner advised he didn''t "know what the protocol was".  Owner stated he had called his insurance and was waiting to hear from them on what to do next.  I advised Owner to return to the lake and meet with me.  Owner arrived at the reservoir at 1320 hours and met with me.  I again went over the details with Owner.  I asked Owner the events leading to the boat sinking.  
  
  Owner advised he was on the North side of Bluestem point and slowly driving the vessel when he felt an impact under the boat.  Owner advised it didn''t seem like anything had happened.  Owner then stated he anchored and swam around for about 2 hours.  Owner then stated when he got ready to leave he noticed there was a lot of water in the boat.  Owner stated every time he gave the boat power the water went towards the back and killed the engine.  Owner said he was trying to limp the boat back to the boat ramp where his trailer was and it sunk on him at the point we found it.  
  
  Owner stated when it went down he went to shore and was picked up by a passerby.  I asked Owner if the boat had any history of taking on water and Owner stated it has always had some water that came in the boat.  I advised Owner we wouldn''t be able to get the boat out of the water for him due to the size of the vessel.  Owner stated he would get somebody to get it out.  On July 30, 2017 at 1845 hours I was notified by Heartland towing that they had the vessel and were close to getting it to shore to pull it out.  I advised I would meet them there.  When the vessel came out of the water, I noticed 2 areas where water was coming out of the boat.  The areas were  the bilge area at the front of the vessel where the water should come out and the other was where the I/O connected to the vessel.  
  
  Looking at where the motor connected, I could see where there had been caulking done several times.  I noted the drain plug was inserted into the vessel.  On July 31, 2017 at 1130 hours I met with Heartland towing where the vessel was being stored.  I took pictures of the stress fractures on the back of the vessel.  It is unknown whether these cracks occurred from impact or from the boat being drug to shore.  We investigated further the area where I saw water coming out the vessel.  We notice a red cable connecting to the motor which came out of the vessel through a 3/4 inch hole.  The was nothing stopping water from going into the hole.  We also checked the vessel for safety equipment and found it all on board.  After leaving, I met with the owner of Shady Creek Sales and asked him about the cable.  I was told the cable was a shift cable.  State determined that the sinking was either due to the impact causing the caulking seal to break or the hole where the shift cable allowed water ot enter.