Canadian Coast Guard's Hovercraft @ Departure Bay

[k3nny224]

I had the opportunity to work with the Coast Guard last year at the Sea Island Hovercraft base in Vancouver. On my last day we were out on Siyay responding to a fire onboard a pleasure craft, once it was all sorted out and we were about to head back, the Captain called me up and asked if i wanted to drive back to Vancouver from the Gulf Islands... i definately said yes, it was an aweseom experience. Canadian Coast Guard is awesome.

[Fitty008]

I worked with the coast guard at th hovercraft base for 3weeks on a work experience, infact on this verry craft and on the other West Coast Hovercraft nammed PENAC. They are absolutly amazing machines and the crew are amazingly well trainned and prepared

[Benjigga]

WHAT?! That is awesome! I work with Victoria Coast Guard Radio all the time coordinating rescues between the U.S. and Canadian boarders, and I always hear them say "A rescue hover craft is on it's way." I didn't know they were this cool.. Very awesome.

[slingshot88150]

i always see these by my house

[dmullin12345]

This hovercraft comes into the Gaspe Bay each spring to break up the ice.

[rocked77]

how does a hovercraft break ice?

[fhaolain]

Know it sound hard to believe but you'd be surprised at what they can do!

[jbcanada77]

They don't break it. They go over it!

[911caddy]

Actually you are incorrect. The same fans that give the craft it's lift are strong enough to break ice. I understand CCG hovercraft are many used in rivers back east to break ice.

[kellydocf]

Siyay is actually on the west coast, but ist sister vessel, the Sipu Muinm, based in Quebec is the one that ice breaks.

Hovercrafts, at low speed, displace the weight of the craft in water. This creates a large bow wave especially in shallow water. Its this bow wave that they use to break the ice, along with the down force of the craft on lift.

Hope that helps

[pollcrazy]

so are you a fellow coast Guard employee?

Jozo

[indyinsane]

No, I am a nautical enthusiast on our west coast.

[orchard144]

I didn't know we had hovercrafts in Canada. I'm impressed

[koppimasho]

yep, this is Canada's very own "Siyay"... one of the biggest of its kind. There actually was a good Discovery program on that once and yes: it surely is impressive!