Watch CBS News

$3.2 Million Luxury Yacht Sinks In Lake Tahoe Marina

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE (CBS13/AP) — A three-story yacht that recently sold for $3.2 million has sunk in a Lake Tahoe marina.

So far, no sewage or fuel from the yacht are leaking into the water, but officials say they're keeping an eye on it.

El Dorado County Environmental Health Manager Barbara Houghton said Tuesday the 86-foot Sierra Rose is sealed, but inspectors will monitor efforts to pull it out of the Tahoe Keys Marina, just in case.

It's not clear what sent the 86-foot Sierra Rose vessel underwater at the Tahoe Keys Marina by Monday morning, but neighbors reported hearing the sound of tearing metal Sunday night.

Witness Heather Contreras told the Tahoe Daily Tribune more than a dozen people were on the vessel at the time, but everyone made it off safely. She says the boat didn't immediately sink.

"The owner was on it, a couple of his friends was on it. When he woke up at 3 a.m. in the morning to go to the bathroom, he felt water," yacht worker Dennis Shannon told CBS13. "He said 'Let's get out of here.'"

Shannon says it's believed the lake water filtration system broke Sunday night.

"It just kept pumping and pumping and pumping," he said. "Nobody knew it until it was too late."

Ed Knapp is a professional diver who has been hired to help seal the boat and help pump the water out.

"It'll be so much force it'll pump out more than is coming in," he said.

But it's a massive task that could take three to four days to finish.

Workers say the owner plans to rebuild the yacht. After all it is only 7 years old. There was no word on how much that will cost, but you can bet it'll be a pretty penny.

The Reno Gazette-Journal reports a big screen TV, leather couches, and floating slices of bread could be seen inside the partially submerged yacht Monday.

The vessel includes three bedrooms, three bathrooms, fireplaces, and a helicopter pad on top.

Calls to county officials and the marina manager were not immediately returned Tuesday.

(TM and © Copyright 2010 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.