St. Paul F.D. Tests Its New Ice Rescue Boat

[rick]

Training Runs On Lake Phalen

Maya Nishikawa
Reporting

(WCCO) St. Paul Minnesota's current winter weather means thin ice on ponds and lakes, which in turn means greater danger to skaters, fishers and others drawn to the outdoors. The St. Paul Fire Department is more prepared than ever now that it has a new ice rescue boat.

With a huge fan propelling it, the boat may look like something from the Florida Everglades. However this vessel is designed to perform in the cold. The Husky Nattiq Emergency Rescue Airboat can...

Full story: http://wcco.com/topstories/local_story_007134426.html

 

[basketcase0302]

Rick,

Cool video. The boat actually has a steering wheel instead of a rudder

I wonder what kind of long belt drive that is?

Basketcase

 

[roberti53]

Interesting,
Fire and rescue, and the DNR keep getting more Airboats for whatever reason, and want us off the river.
I wonder if the 84 decible at 100' applies to that rig????????????????????
I know the answer to that.
Maybe if we write FIRE & RESCUE on the side of our boats we will be OK.

 

[bigkavr]

Guy's
Trust me when I say "you are not missing anything" by not going for a ride in that airboat. I tried to do some training with the Coast Guard using their Husky and we couldn't complete the training because the Husky didn't have the power or maneuverability... One of the most expensive airboats on the market, ($100,000.00)and still using 1970s technology.. Their "Kevlar reinforced hull" is guaranteed to crack and break in the first year due to the use of the ice brake mounted on the transom.. See what you guys are missing??
Brian...

 

[Airboatcapt2]

I called my customers in Mn they were shocked to hear that someone bought the Kevlar boat w/out seeing the City of Minn. boat or the Minn Airports boat. I was told both are in great shape and performing great. They just sent me about 150 pictures of their boats on Ice.


I hope the Kevlar boat holds up for them.

 

[Sniper]

Brian

When are these guy's going to learn to talk to you before they spend that kind of money on something that does not work it amazes me how these company's sell boats to rescue folks that don't work or that are unproven with all the time and experience you have running Ice and snow you would think you would be the go to man on that kind of equipment some body need to put the word out on you and your knowledge better because they are really loosing out on a lot of good information