$3.2M yacht sinks in Lake Tahoe marina

The luxury yacht the Sierra Rose, sits partially submerged at its Tahoe Keys Marina dock Monday, July 9, 2012 in South Lake Tahoe, Calif. / Adam Jensen,AP Photo/ Tahoe Daily Tribune

(AP) SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — A three-story, $3.2 million yacht that sunk in a Lake Tahoe marina is so far leaking no sewage or fuel 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.

The yacht apparently started sinking slowly Sunday night and had reached the marina bottom by Monday morning, though the top floor remained above water Tuesday.

It's not clear what caused the boat to sink, but neighbors reported hearing the sound of tearing metal Sunday night. Witness Heather Contreras tells the Tahoe Daily Tribune more than a dozen people were on the vessel at the time but everyone made it off.

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

[TLUnrine1]

Someone ask the insurance companies how many yachts are sinking in marinas. Seems like when the economy sucks, and money is drying up, assets literally sink for insurance companies to pay off the loans.

[emomarcelo]

Imagine that,Mitt Romney, after bank accounts in Switzerland and in the Cayman Islands, cadillacs, show horses, he still has an appetite for a houseboat in a lake.
Thank you for linking the boat to Mr. Romney.

[emomarcelo]

Imagine that,Mitt Romney, after bank accounts in Switzerland and in the Cayman Islands, cadillacs, show horses, he still has an appetite for a houseboat in a lake.
Thank you for linking the boat to Mr. Romney.

[vissionquest]

Having been in the boat repair business for over 40 years- my bet this was a maintenence problem and not insurance fraud. Two things lead me to this conclusion -- sinking it in shallow water near an area of equipment access is not a good plan. The amount of rountine maintenance for a boat of this worth is about 250,000 a year and more often than not, it is the failure to maintain that causes these sinkings

[aintfakin]

3.2 million dollar boat on a lake
no doubt an "adventurous" republican "braving" the depths :-)
more evidence tax breaks dont create jobs.....just 3.2 million dollar boats on a lake

[venusvegasvada]

Looks like a houseboat to me. I wonder just what makes this thing worth 3.whatever million dollars? The insurance policy?

Or was the real yacht parked next to the houseboat and they were tied off to each other and when the "yacht" sank it dragged the houseboat down with it?

I'd love to know what the name of the insurance company was that took out a policy against this thing for 3.2 million.

[jklombardi]

A 1%er commiting insurance fraud?? How dare any of you insinuate such a thing? Sounds like profiling to me.

[Martha12345]

Somehow that devil Bush did it. Now to prove it !!

[LookingAtYouFool]

The "yacht" has been for sale or rent:

http://www.sierraroseyacht.com/

Rent: $2K a night, $12K a week, $40K a month.

Plus 10%, plus $350 an hour for crew and a $500 cleaning fee.

[Transatlantique]

Thank you for that. The interiors were really nice, what a shame.

[TLUnrine1]

That explains the sinking - no one buying, pressed for money, sink the boat.

[nohater]

that's a house boat, plain and simple. nothing that large should be allowed in lake tahoe. insurance company should investigate for fraud and law enforcement for criminality. a 3.2 million dollar house boat, now really. it probably isn't even sea worthy so not a yacht, a house boat.