It was a brazen theft of an expensive and unwieldy piece of equipment.
The boat lift for the Lake Country Ski and Board Club was stolen from its storage location beside the club shack on the beach at the north end of Wood Lake.
The theft would have required the use of a flat deck trailer or larger covered trailer to accomplish as the aluminum boat lift weighs approximately 317 kg (700 lbs).
The lift went missing sometime between the afternoon of Wednesday May 23 and Friday May 25 at 2 p.m. That was the only window of opportunity after club volunteers last saw the lift in storage, said ski club president, Chris Killick.
It would have taken at least two people or a solid winch to load the boat lift onto a trailer.
“We pull it out for winter so the ice won’t damage it. The lift was scheduled to go back in the water this week,” Killick said.
The theft is a real blow to the club. The lift offered secure storage for the club’s tow boat when not in use during the ski season.
“This is terrible for us as a club. It means the boat will not be secure or protected from theft,” said Killick.
He is unsure of the next step to take as the club season is supposed to launch in two weeks. Should the lift not be found and returned to the club, fundraising for a new lift is daunting. A new lift is valued at about $8,000.
The solar powered hydraulic lift is a 2009 Basta brand.
The difficulties of storing the boat out of the water come into focus with upcoming summer camps and the constant movement of children through skiing and boarding programs.
“Camps are potentially threatened,” Killick explained. “We need to figure out somewhere to keep the boat safely.”
If anyone has any information about the whereabouts of the lift, contact the Lake Country RCMP detachment at 250-766-2288.