Dane Gibson
Northern News Services

NNSL (July 28/99) - Water safety experts heard tales of storms popping up out of nowhere, propellers being mysteriously bent out of shape, and dogs leaping out of perfectly good boats.

The NWT Small Boat Safety Council and the Yellowknife Fire Department held a Boating Safety Day at Long Lake on Saturday.

Representatives from both organizations enjoyed swapping boat stories with the weekend crowd while imparting water safety messages at the same time.

"We want to make sure people have fun, but we want them to have that fun in a safe environment," said Small Boat Safety Awareness co-ordinator Stephen Sherburne.

"We want to see people go out boating with the proper equipment. We're not talking about expensive stuff that's hard to find. It's about things like an extra spark plug, tools, and drinking water. The program is about raising awareness."

Darryl and Karen Klochko wonder if a spare spark plug could have helped their friend Russ Epp. When they went camping to the East Arm of the Great Slave Lake last year, the Klochko's were using their boat to haul the people. Epp was following in his boat with the supplies, when his engine died.

"He wanted to go home but he had all the food, so we wouldn't let him go," Darryl said laughing.

"We talked him into starting up his kicker (small safety motor). He showed up at camp 14 hours later and it was high-fives all around. We were pretty hungry by then."

Glenn Peterson was also at Long Lake on the weekend with family and friends. Safety officials weren't sure how to take Peterson's tales of water-skiing adventures. While the weekend weather was fine for water skiing, nothing compared to Peterson's experience on Nov. 7 of last year.

"There was open water so we decided to go for it. We wore dry-suits, toques, snow goggles and neoprene gloves with rubber gloves over top," Peterson said.

"There was chunks of ice floating so it was really cold, but I still skied three times. Now, it's sort of a challenge to see if we can do it later than November. If there's open water in December, we'll give it a shot."

Peterson may have taken the necessary steps to stay warm enough, but Sherburne said it's important to remember that hypothermia could always result from falling into Northern waters when not prepared.

"The water in the North is very cold and hypothermia is a year-long problem here, on the land and on the water," Sherburne said.

Nine-year-old Kyla Zenko was enjoying the day at Long Lake -- especially the hotdogs and drinks provided by the fire department.

"I learned that even adults have to wear lifejackets. Grown-ups are just the same as kids because they can drown too," Zenko said.

"Also, you have to wear a lifejacket if you don't know how to swim very well," she added confidently.