SPIDER BAY—The Manitoulin Sea Cadet Corps is finally on the water thanks to a $4,000 donation from the Little Current Lions Club. Members of the Lions Club gathered at Spider Bay Marina to watch the launch of a new hard bottomed inflatable boat, one of two small craft that will allow the cadets to undergo training here on Manitoulin Island.
“It makes sense that we are able to go out on the water, given that we are Sea Cadets and we live on an Island,” said Commanding Officer Lt. (N) Sylvain Boucher as he organized the cadets to move one of the two ‘Zodiac-style’ vessels into the water.
Actually, the hard-bottomed inflatable vessel was built by a Canadian manufacturer called Innovocean out of Oakville. (Zodiac being a different brand that is probably not happy about their name being near-universally used to identify the style of vessel.)
Innovocean gave the cadets a significant discount on the cost of the new vessel. “It was a floor model,” said Sub Lt. Tina Davidson. “But it is brand new to the water.”
“When we were doing our training in Sudbury I said, ‘I wish I could do that on Manitoulin, it makes sense since we are surrounded by water,’” recalled Lt. (N) Boucher. “They said ‘well, get yourself some boats and you won’t have to come here.’”
The safety regulations call for a program to have two boats and, with the two vessels, six cadets can go out for training at the same time, he noted.
“It’s great,” said Manitoulin North-Shore Navy League President Bob Jewell. “Most of the cadets have their boating licences now and their (VHS) radio licences.” The Navy League is the sponsoring organization for the Manitoulin Sea Cadets. Mr. Jewell said that the support of local organizations such as the Little Current Lions Club plays a crucial role in making the Manitoulin Sea Cadets Corps an outstanding success. He noted that the VHF radios being utilized by the Sea Cadets and their instructors were donated by The Expositor.”
“We are happy to be able to support a worthy cause such as the Manitoulin Sea Cadets,” said Lion Dave Draper. “It’s all about the Lion’s motto, ‘We Serve.’”
The new inflatables are powered by 9.9 hp Yamaha outboards and, as a further safety measure, feature heavy duty prop guards to ensure the prop is isolated from contact with any errant body parts or the lake bottom.
Cadets will soon be completing their annual programming. Several Manitoulin Sea Cadets will be heading off to training at Canadian Forces bases such as Trenton, learning further skills that will serve them well in their future endeavours.
