Re: [Paddlewise] Airboats (was Wes Boyd Incident)

From: kirk olsen <kolsen_at_imaginelan.com>
Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001 10:16:26 -0400
At 12:37 AM 4/18/01 -0400, you wrote:

>        There's a few up here in NJ, alas.  Generally been used as rescue
>boats.  The fire company above Trenton on the Delaware River had one.  It
>could go up some of the rapids, which was its main use.  They accidentally
>sank it during a drill (they're very edgy boats) and it was destroyed
>totally.   I've also seen a hovercraft on the Delaware being used for
>similar purposes.  Now, there's Another Noisy Boat.....

The "harbormaster", in Haverhill Massachusetts has an airboat, at least one
duck (similar to http://www.gordonfabrics.com/ducktours.htm but with 4 BIG
wheels), and I think I've seen a hovercraft and small helicopter.  The
harbormaster and his "crew" are far more hazardous than confidence
inspiring.  I've almost been run down by their airboat and I've seen their
duck swamp canoes during a canoe race that they were "monitoring".

In Haverhill the harbormaster is an appointed position, and the
harbormaster is supplying all of his own craft.  Also Haverhill is about 15
miles from the ocean and the 2 local marinas have about 40 boats between them.

kirk

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Received on Wed Apr 18 2001 - 07:25:49 PDT

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