Diver repairs flotation systems

BAYVIEW - A scuba diver on Tuesday slipped into the chilly waters of Lake Pend Oreille and beneath a couple of Bayview's characteristic float houses to prevent them from tipping into the bay.

The float houses were tipping because of the recent rain-on-snow weather from Sunday and Monday.

Eric Rouse, owner of Get Wet diving services in Rathdrum, said the damage to one of the float houses was significant.

"I could swim around inside that one," said Rouse as he donned gear for his next plunge.

The work is on the dangerous side.

"It is a little," Rouse said. "You think about it while you're down there, you're like, 'Hmm?'"

Rouse hooked cables and chains to the two homes to secure them. He then added air to the houses' existing flotation systems to tilt them upright. One was nearly upright Tuesday afternoon, while the other was still badly tipping when Rouse spoke with The Press.

His primary work was securing them in place and preventing them from damaging neighboring float houses. A crane will likely be called in, too, he said.

The float houses are particularly vulnerable when additional weight is added to their tops.

"It's like taking a cork and putting a nail in it - it wants to flop over," Rouse said. "Add a little bit of snow to it, and it tips a little bit and nothing stops them."

A nearby covered dock for multiple boats had collapsed from the snow and rain.

Rouse said he is in Bayview nearly every winter handling similar calls for service. He also ends up retrieving a few sunken boats every winter.