airboat replaces hovercraft
posted: Wednesday, 25 December 2013
by: Diane Gibas
Mille Lacs County (MN) Search and Rescue has a new airboat to replace the Hovercraft used to rescue people on Mille Lacs and surrounding lakes for the past 17 years. The Hovercraft was purchased in 1996 with funds secured by search and rescue member Jerome Kryzer. Kryzer received donations from counties around the lake to purchase the Hovercraft. That was made of fiberglass and has incurred damage from hitting ice rocks.
Mille Lacs County Sheriff Brent Lindgren had the board of commissioners check out the new Search and Rescue airboat from their chambers on Tuesday, Dec. 17. The boat is reinforced to not sustain damage while on the ice.
Sheriff Brent Lindgren told the Mille Lacs County Board he was able to secure a $67,500 federal boat and water equipment grant earlier this year to purchase a boat and trailer for the Search and Rescue Division on Mille Lacs Lake. The boat and trailer were purchased for $62,850. It is an air boat designed for water and ice rescue in Minnesota. The boat is a 550 HP airboat with reinforced hull and special skid plates for going over ice rocks, land and water.
Special lighting will be installed on the new boat before it will be ready for service.
