Sunken Boat Location Still Unknown
By Logan Hall
The owner of the boat that sank off the western shore of Lake Casitas on Sunday is cooperating with officials in attempting recovery efforts. However, the red-and-yellow 1977 “jet boat” has not been located yet, according to Casitas spokesman Ron Merckling.
Original reports from Casitas stating the boat was in 80 feet of water were inaccurate and the depth of the boat, along with its precise location, were yet to be determined as of press time yesterday evening.
The boat’s owner, identified by Casitas as Lukas Branaham, recounts the traumatizing ordeal. “I was heading back in at the end of the day when I felt the whole boat shudder,” he said. “All of a sudden the back was full of water. It came to a standstill and the nose rose up. Within 30 seconds, my boat went down. I didn’t hit nobody or nothing. It was just a freak accident.”
Original reports also indicated that Branaham had fled the scene without notifying officials after the sinking and getting a ride to shore by another boater. But Branaham, says he did everything he could to help resolve the situation.
“I notified someone in the bait shop and they said they couldn’t do anything about it,” recalled Branaham. “I looked for someone at the front gate, but the office was closed and there was no one in the booth. I was wet and freezing, and it was dark outside, so I went home and started making calls.”
Progress was finally made on Monday morning. “The next morning I got a hold of Paul at Vessel Assist,” continued Branaham. “I paid him a thousand bucks out of my own pocket to get everything started. I spent all day on Monday, Tuesday and yesterday (Wednesday) out on the lake trying to help.”
Paul Amaral, salvage master and owner of Vessel Assist, which specializes in locating and retrieving downed vessels, said attempts to lock down the boat’s location have been unsuccessful. “The depth of the area and the terrain of the bottom have made it difficult to pinpoint the location,” said Amaral. “Unfortunately, it’s stuck in an area that is deep and tough to work with. We have an idea of where it is, and we saw something on sonar that caught our attention, but we haven’t found anything yet. At this point Casitas is going to have to decide how they want to move forward.”
Although Amaral says Vessel Assist is, “on hold at this point,” Casitas officials are indicating that Branaham is still responsible for the boat’s removal.
“Lukas has been notified that he needs to take action,” said Merckling. “If the boat is not removed shortly, we will be taking additional action.”
Merckling says there are no fines involved, and no disciplinary steps have been taken toward Branaham at this time, but that Casitas staff is consulting with legal counsel on the matter. “The only thing being done at this time is that we’re seeking advisement from our attorney,” said Merckling.
Although there have been some concerns raised about the boat causing issues with the water quality of Casitas, which is a public water source, Merckling says there is no indication so far that water quality will be affected. “We have a dividing line on the lake to keep vessels away from the water intake,” said Merckling. “If one should sink, it would be far enough from the intake that it shouldn’t cause any problems.”
Branaham admits that this has been a tough week for him, and that it isn’t over yet. “We’ve lost something very valuable and it’s costing us a lot of money,” he said. “That boat was my heart and soul. I’m doing everything I can to make this right.”
First off let me start off by saying that I think Gary Patrawski & his wife may have been doing some boosen out on the lake because their time frame & story is way off & wrong. 2nd there is no fraud of any kind here going on 2 comit fraud u have 2 1st have inssurance on the vessel as there was none due 2 the fact that no issurance companies out there inssure speed boats @ any time. 3rd of all there was NEVER EVER any towing of any boat @ anytime it was impossible nor was there any attempts. Due r the seats in the vessel that were made of wood j fiber glass could not handle the pressure in going down that they popted out of the vessel & out of the water. At that time is when Gary & his wife came along. At that time Luke was in shock due 2 loosing his heart j soul into that Lake. What happen was the fact that while heading into the docks 4 the day his pump in the back of the baot split in half & so much water came on so quick that all they could do was bail 4 their lifes. Which brings me 2 the next thing everyone is so quick 2 judge Luke & slandder him 2 the papers like Gary did but the fact of the matter is did the papers, Gary, or anyone else wonder if the two men were safe, no they didn’t! what was saw being towed @ anytime was them towning behind a boat was the seats & the debree from the inccident. bottom line is Gary, fisherman & sailmen never liked his boat not do they like any of the other speed boats on the lake because they HATE SPEED BOATERS. He has been working with the lake 4 almost 2 strait weeks od stress & all he has the Lake telling him is no 2 everything, & everyone no matter how certified ,quilified, have own buissness, & own a 1 million $ liability inssurance policy. The lake just keeps saying no, no, no! The only person they will let do it even though there r several companies out there that r qualified & can do it 4 cheaper they will not let anyone except Paul with Ventura Harbor Vessel Assist who ripped Luke off 4 1,000.00 just 2 ride on the rangers boat, point whitch direction 2 drive in while looking @ the sonar radoar & the top of the water 4 2 hours. Then quoted Luke @ $10,000.00 but sorry but he doesnmt have that kind of $ so yes he is doing everything he can 2 help the situation & poeple tend 2 forget that he too was also born & raised in this community j just as concerned if not more than anyone if he needs anything he needs the community 2 come 2 gether & help out a fellowp person in our community not turn against those who need the help because who knows maybe someday u may be in a simmuilar situation. 4 those who r compashionate & understanding that this was clearly a accident & not an on purpose thanks so much 4 ur support.
There is also a bunch of farm equipment down there from when they built the lake. Should we hall that up too?
Mr. Rock Lobster:
I blame the reporter for blindly accepting and reporting the boat owner’s story without asking probing questions of him or others and seeing if what he was told made sense.
Mr OjaiGuy:
I did give a description of the other boats in my initial cell phone call-up to the bait shop. Since it wasn’t a description of one of their rentals, they didn’t seem to get very excited
Mr. really:
I approached the two boats and asked if anything was wrong and could we help. They said no. I then called someone who alerted authorities. I followed up when I got back to the docks. How much more do you think I should have done to not be passive? I am not law enforcement and did not think I should take matters into my own hands. As a former member of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, I could have safely offered assistance but we do not force ourselves on anyone; that is the job of sworn officers.
the boat was an older boat not worth alot of money. So you crazies need to stop with the insurance fraud angle. Its amazing how you can make up a story far from the truth. And Gary why did you remain so passive if you felt something was wrong. Next time get closer that way there will be no questions left unanswered.
Good job Gary. I’m glad that they did listen to what you witnessed. We all share the responsibility to enjoy the lake safely, both personal and environmentally.
You don’t mention it, but did you give a description of the other boat and boater? That person needs to come forward. He may be just a good samaritan, or he may be involved with conspiracy to commit fraud. I’m wondering if he is the person who reported the boat sinking on Monday, as the original article stated.
The boat towing the submerged boat would be at an unnatural tilt wouldn’t you think? How can you not find a sunken boat in Lake Casitas? How deep is it?
What would be the point in a coverup? Who wins and who loses?
So Gary –
You are blaming the writer of the story for someone else’s lies? I don’t get it …
Was the boat insured?
I think there is a coverup somewhere and not all the facts are being given.
My wife and I were on Lake Casitas on Sunday afternoon in our sailboat and we came upon two ski boats idling near each other about 5PM on the northwest corner of the island. I could see one was towing something in the water that looked like some seats. I asked if everything was ok and they said yes and didn’t appear to want us to get any closer. We went on and called the bait shop by cell phone and told them of the strange occurance and they said they would notify the rangers and the patrol boat.
Half an hour later when we docked and saw no activity of the patrol boat moving, we asked the guy at the bait shop that we talked to by cell phone what happened. He said he told the rangers about what I had said but they didn’t go out.
I think the story related by Logan Hall to the readers is poor and incomplete.
Branaham’s story seems fishy; if he was so concerned about his boat, why didn’t he contact officials when it was submerged but under tow behind another boat? If he didn’t have a cell phone to make the call from the boat he was in after his sunk, why didn’t he ask me to help him out as we approached the two boats offering help? Unfortunately I didn’t realize at the time that what was being towed was another submerged boat. The sun was glaring in my eyes off the water so it was not all that clear.
Then there is the issue of why park rangers didn’t respond quickly to my warning given to them via the bait shop employees about this very incident and investigate?
I talked with the park administrator and the OVN editor by phone about my observations after I found out what I had seen based on the articles in the paper and was greeted with a polite thank you and good by.