Smith County Rescue Squad Receives Jet Ski Donated by Canoe The Caney

September 16, 2021

We are happy to announce we have a new piece of equipment to help us in our water rescues. This will not only be used on our lakes and rivers but potentially in flash flood situations throughout the county.

Back in 2020, the county’s rescue squad was responding to an increasing number of calls for kayakers in distress on the Caney Fork River. Even though most of those calls were not related to outfitters’ customers, Canoe the Caney’s Director of Operations, Billie Davis, reached out to Ricky Gibbs with the rescue squad, asking what Canoe the Caney could do to assist them, or better prepare them, for water rescues. During that conversation, the topic of a Jet Ski came up.We had noticed that Canoe the Caney often had a Jet Ski on the river with their customers. It appeared to operate well and was very maneuverable in the currents, so I asked, “What are the odds we could get a Jet Ski and possibly station it closer to the river for a quicker response,” Gibbs stated. To our surprise, Ms. Davis said that was actually one of the main reasons for her visit. She said she had wanted to do something to support Smith County’s rescue squad, and when she asked Jason Carver, owner of Canoe the Caney, what they could do, he told her that what the squad really needed was a fully outfitted jet ski like the one he built for Canoe the Caney that would allow them to move quickly and efficiently up and down the river. Jason told Billie to do whatever was needed in order to donate one of those skis to the Smith County Rescue Squad, and together they made it happen.

“Canoe the Caney went a little beyond what we were expecting,” stated Smith County Rescue Chief, Sonny Carter. “Not only did they provide a Jet Ski, they equipped it with stabilizer jets, which are inflatable stabilizers that attach to the sides of the machine, making it much more buoyant in the water. This makes it safer for both rescuer and victim. They also added saddlebags that we can use to keep throw bags, and other equipment in, as well as putting our name and logos on the jet ski.” When we went to pick it up, Jason said, “By the way, bring it up once a year and we will change the oil, and do routine maintenance on it, as well, to help you guys out.”

With us being a volunteer organization that operates off of donations, things like an oil change and doing routine maintenance saves us money and extends our operating budget between fundraisers, according to Michael Clayborne, squad president. We want to extend our sincere appreciation to the staff of Canoe the Caney for everything they have done to make this happen. This goes beyond looking out for their customers, it extends to everyone, whether it’s other kayakers, or fishermen, that utilize the Caney Fork River and helps ensure we have what we need when someone gets into trouble.