Boat Rescue Base Construction Under Way
By Barbra Fairclough
The Rescue Base needs four 60’ pontoons for floatation. These were nearly complete when this photo was taken in early December 2022. (Shared from RCMSAR Facebook page)
Optimistic that the Shuswap Royal Canadian Search and Rescue (RCMSAR) boat rescue base in Sicamous will be operational for boats coming in or out by May 2023, construction is under way.
The new building will protect assets worth $1,000,000. Response vessels as well as operational supplies and equipment will be housed.
In 2021, Shuswap RCMSAR #106 saw the second highest number of station rescue missions in British Columbia. With this volume of rescue missions increasing and the need for year-round preparedness, the new boathouse will dramatically reduce the amount of hours volunteers spend on maintenance to keep vessels in top operating condition.
Twin Anchors is constructing the pontoons. Like so many construction projects, timelines are being driven to a degree by supply chain issues causing delay in materials arriving. Unfortunately, this is true for doors and windows. The rescue base will be constructed in two sections.
The RCMSAR has a ten-year moorage lease with Olde Town Bay. The lease was a requirement for the grant conditions. A preferred location would be in the Sicamous channel. The master plan for the base has been conceived so that at a time in the future when moving is required, it can be deconstructed into two manageable and moveable portions. In the meantime, they continue to seek out a longer term location option in the Sicamous channel.
Each section will rest on two pontoons, constructed with precision welds making pontoons waterproof. The rescue base needs to be built in two halves each on two pontoons and then once constructed they will be trucked to the lake and floated, and the two halves joined. Then the roof components go on.
The boat rescue base has everything needed in one place. Shuswap RCMSAR Director Cliff Doherty confirms that there will be a “ready room,” and this part will be constructed by the volunteers.
The ready room will house uniforms, response gear, washroom facility and a sit down table. Classroom space is not a requirement due to facilities in the community nearby. The response room will enable volunteers to have a warm location for quickly available gear so when there is a call out gear is readily available, and wet gear can be housed after a call to dry out as needed. The sit down table is where mission details can be discussed prior to deployment. From here there is a direct gangway to the boats waiting outside.
The Rescue Base pontoon components waiting to be joined together and welded. (shared from RCMSAR Facebook page)
A next step would be to install solar panels. Putting solar on the roof will take pressure off the need to fundraise to pay for utilities. The Rescue Base would be self sufficient. Cliff confirms this would be a separate and potential next project.
Cliff says “We are continuing to seek donations to help us. The charitable organization of Shuswap RCMSAR, responsible for funding for the rescue base, was given $100,000 by donors in the last five or six years.
Project manager Pat Gau, Vice President RMSAR deals with the day to day construction needs as project manager. Bruce Weicker, President is managing the financial aspects of the project.
From time to time project updates will be posted in FB. Are you interested in working with volunteers in constructing the ready room? Contact Bruce Weicker at 250 833 8971 or email at slspresident2020@gmail.com.
