Tank you, Albany: Retired paramedic’s venture sets sail on local creek

ALBANY — After decades of answering emergency calls, a local retired paramedic is preparing to launch what he says will be Georgia’s first business of its kind — shifting from crisis response to a venture centered on recreation and recovery along the water.

Scott Conley, a long-time paramedic in southwest Georgia, plans to open “Get Tank’d” this summer, a business built around an unconventional concept: galvanized livestock troughs converted into floating, family-style vessels for small-group creek outings.

The idea, Conley said, is rooted in both accessibility and simplicity.

Set to launch in the coming months, the venture will offer guided or self-paced trips along the Kinchafoonee Creek using the modified troughs, which can hold four to six adults. Designed to be more stable and less physically demanding than kayaks or canoes, the vessels are intended to create a slower, more social experience on the water.

The concept draws from a growing recreational trend known as “tanking,” which has gained popularity in states such as Nebraska and Tennessee. The oversized metal tubs, often outfitted with seating and coolers, offer a shallow-draft, low-effort alternative to traditional tubing or paddling, with trips typically lasting between two and six hours.

For Conley, the business is as much personal as it is practical.

“I lived off this road, so we utilized this creek for almost 17 years — we used this same landing,” he said.

A single father who raised four daughters, Conley said the creek played a central role in their upbringing.

“I came here with four children all the time. They grew up in this neighborhood, and I always wanted to start a tubing business, but I just never developed it into anything,” he said.

Now, after a career spent responding to emergencies, he said the water offers something different.

“I watched people die for 30 years,” Conley said. “So this is therapeutic. This is very therapeutic to come out here and get on the water.”

That perspective helped shape the business model, particularly its focus on accessibility.

“Getting access to the water is difficult for a lot of people,” he said. “For some, they’re not going to get on kayaks, they’re not going to get on boats or canoes — physically they can’t do it. This seems like a more stable option. It’s budget-friendly and can accommodate larger groups that can go together.”

Unlike kayaking, which often requires loading equipment and sustained paddling, Conley said tanking is designed to be lower effort.

“With tanking, there might be times you have to get out and push across a sandbar, but it’s still going to be less work,” he said. “It floats well. It doesn’t turn as sharply as a kayak, but it’s easy to maneuver because of its size.”

Beyond convenience, Conley said he sees the concept as a way to bring more people to the water — and to each other.

“It’s just a simple idea to float these things down the creek, but it’s a way to have fun and a way to bring more people out here to enjoy nature,” he said. “It’s perfect for families, for corporate events, for team bonding. It could even be a fun date — bring something like chocolate-covered strawberries and just enjoy the time.”

As of this spring, Conley said five vessels are already in rotation, with more being added as demand grows in the coming weeks. Reservations are currently being accepted through the business’s Facebook page ahead of its official summer launch and from Conleys’ store front on Ledo Road.