Chester Wingo, Boat Owner, "It went down in a matter of 20 minutes."

Getting "The Karen Leigh" out of the water was not so quick.

It took two cranes, a skilled diver and several workers to get the submerged sternwheeler from the Kanawha River.

The boat sank Saturday evening.

Owner Chester Wingo still can't believe his eyes.

Chester Wingo, "I'm really curious to find out what happened."

Lifting the boat was a huge spectacle.

Haddad Riverfront Park was over run with the lunch crowd, chowing down and catching a rare sight.

Mary Russell, Spectator, "Nice day, come and watch "Karen Leigh" being raised.

After a few minor set backs, the sternwheeler was slowly lifted revealing a rupture on the bottom of the boat.

The floating remnants of Wingo's home away from home are in ruin.

The sight reminds Okey Harless of what's really important.

Okey Harless, Wingo's Friend, "No one was hurt. If it had been out in the water or if we hadn't been prepared some body could have been hurt."

Wingo says sternwheeler boats are a part of American History and he wants the name sake of his wife, "The Karen Leigh" to sail again.

But not everyone is convinced.

Mary Russell, "Looks like salvage to me."

Still Wingo says he's owned the boat for three years and can't imagine not having his weekend escape.

Chester Wingo, "If she can be put back together I'm gonna put her back together. I've got a lot of time put in. It will just take more."