Emma Levez
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jul 13/98) - Equipped with two 20-foot jet boats, Leon Lafferty and Sam Drybones have created their own outfitting business in Rae. They're calling it North Arm Charters.

Open for business as of the last week of June, Lafferty and Drybones will be giving tours in and around the North Arm area for the summer.

"We'll be taking people out fishing, picnicking, birdwatching -- things like that" explains Drybones, "We're charging $75 for half a day. Overnight trips are negotiable."

Both men work for the hamlet during the winter months. They also hunt and fish and are looking forward to the opportunity to spend the summer out on the land.

"We always liked to go out in the bush, on the land," says Lafferty. "This is a way to subsidize our gas and meals ... to be paid to do what we really like."

Each of their boats can carry nine people (or six plus luggage for overnight trips). Most of the trips so far have been out to Marion Lake. "We already have nice spots picked out," says Lafferty, "There is beautiful landscape around here, but if people want to go somewhere else we will also take them."

Most of their clients so far have been people they know from Yellowknife, but they have mailed out brochures to communities around the territories and are hoping to attract some tourists before the summer is over.