Houseboats in distress on Yk Bay
Two homes appeared to be sinking into the water yesterday morning
Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Friday, November 4, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Two Yellowknife Bay houseboats appeared to be sinking slightly yesterday morning.
A person climbs through the window of a houseboat listing in Yellowknife Bay yesterday morning as another person sits in a boat. It wasn't immediately clear why the houseboat was listing, though it was happening during freeze-up of the bay. - Shane Magee/NNSL photo |
"My house is in big trouble right now," said resident Dan Gillis, whose large blue houseboat floats a short distance from a smaller red-roofed houseboat that also appeared to be in distress.
Gillis said he noticed his flotation tanks were low in the water about three days ago. When windy weather came in, it started rocking the houseboat back and forth.
"The more it rocked, the deck acted like wings and they (flotation tanks) dipped in the water and they froze," Gillis said.
He said they took in water, making the house overweight on one side.
"The house has been sinking," he said. "I think that it might have stabilized, but it's very, very, extremely low in the water."
The owner of the smaller house, Darcy Bourassa, was out of town for work when he found out about the situation. He said he wasn't sure what has caused his houseboat to tilt, but wasn't worried as he's dealt with similar circumstances before.
Gillis said he's seen other houseboats face similar problems thanks to wind and cold, but added this is the reality of living on the water. He plans to continue living in the house. While he's not worried about his personal safety, he is worried about the well-being of his home.
His son and a handful of friends have been giving their support as he tries to fix the situation, he said.
"It's already badly damaged, but I'm trying to figure out a way to pump out the tanks. I have to be able to drill under water and I can't seem to be able to do that," Gillis said. "I just hope to get this fixed."
Ella Wray, a spokesperson from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, said she was unable to comment before press time about whether a sinking houseboat could present any hazards.
