Converting boat for wheelchair access

Regardless of the boat size, I would recommend additional floatation on the
wheel chair if the person is belted in.. A personal life jacket wouldn't be
enough to support the wheel chair as well. Even if the person isn't belted
in, the floatation could save the wheel chair from being lost, seperate from
the person.

I agree with others that a 14' boat might be too small for the person in a
wheel chair. The boat thwarts would create a problem possition the chair.

You might consider taking this person, just as a passenger and rig one seat
that will properly support him/her. Leave the wheel chair on the dock or
back in the car.

Any one who has assisted a handicaped person in and out of a bath should
know how to do this well enough to work out a system for getting in and out
of a boat.

At my marina there is a an old 'tug' like boat, about 25 ft that used a
wheel chair ramp to get the owner onboard, however the slip fingers aren't
wide enough for the ramp so the crew motors the boat to another wide
visitors dock so they can use the ramp.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions
 >> Stay informed about: Converting boat for wheelchair access 

ahop (ahop18@yahoo.co.uk) writes:
 > Can anyone tell me how I would go about converting a small 14 foot
 > boat for a wheelchair passenger - and is there any companies in the uk
 > that specialise in this.

Ottawa has a handicapped sailing school at the the Nepean Sailing Club.
I'm sure there must be handicapped kayaking, hard not to with so much
publicity and marketing around kayaks. (Would not be surprized to hear of
some group promoting kayaking as a means of bringing about world peace.)
I'd try searching the Internet for hadicapped boating. You might get some
info or a contact at <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.nsc.ca" target="_blank">www.nsc.ca</a> (Nepean Sailing Club).

--
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
William R Watt National Capital FreeNet Ottawa's free community network
homepage: <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.ncf.ca/~ag384/top.htm" target="_blank">www.ncf.ca/~ag384/top.htm</a>
warning: non-freenet email must have "notspam" in subject or it's returned<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Converting boat for wheelchair access 

Hi

"ahop" <ahop18.DeleteThis@yahoo.co.uk> skrev i en meddelelse
news:2d61b5d9.0403290135.5cc10110@posting.google.com...
 > Can anyone tell me how I would go about converting a small 14 foot
 > boat for a wheelchair passenger - and is there any companies in the uk
 > that specialise in this.

As another reply point out, 14 feet is a very small boat to acturly rebuild
..
*you could consider to ask designers if this subject is somthing somone have
a suggestion about as the best option would be a bpat designed for the
special needs. --------- A lot of free plans is around, and maby some
designer have some clever idear to solve the problems. Guess you need a
method fit for one-off's
P.C.
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Cyber-Boat/" target="_blank">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Cyber-Boat/</a><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Converting boat for wheelchair access 

14 feet does seem small...unless it was maybe a Hobie 14 catamaran.

"ahop" <ahop18.DeleteThis@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:2d61b5d9.0403290135.5cc10110@posting.google.com...
 > Can anyone tell me how I would go about converting a small 14 foot
 > boat for a wheelchair passenger - and is there any companies in the uk
 > that specialise in this.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Converting boat for wheelchair access 

You will need to provide much much more detail than this to get any
meaningful help - but my initial reaction is that 14 ft is likely to be a
little on the small side for a passenger confined to a wheel chair.

David



"ahop" <ahop18 RemoveThis @yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:2d61b5d9.0403290135.5cc10110@posting.google.com...
 > Can anyone tell me how I would go about converting a small 14 foot
 > boat for a wheelchair passenger - and is there any companies in the uk
 > that specialise in this.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Converting boat for wheelchair access 

I would go for a larger bass boat since it is wide and relatively
stable, and eliminate
the wheelchair, and replace it with a special seat on a slide,
two rails on the length of the boat, so the height would
be low and the center of gravity therefore low.
.. The seat could spin around,
you could get anywhere on the boat. If you had dock
access you could put in a swing-out crane so someone
could drive up in his handicapped converted vehicle,
operate the crane, lift himself out of the wheelchair on the
dock, get into the boat and take off..

"ahop" <ahop18 DeleteThis @yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:2d61b5d9.0403290135.5cc10110@posting.google.com...
 > Can anyone tell me how I would go about converting a small 14 foot
 > boat for a wheelchair passenger - and is there any companies in the uk
 > that specialise in this.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Converting boat for wheelchair access 

This seems like the sensible, safe way to go.
I would be uncomfortable with a wheelchair passenger
in my low freeboard 18 ft bass boat, far less so in my 15 ft sail boat
hull.

On the other hand, my big old i/o work boat at 20 feet and 3 ft of
free board, with a clear deck would handle a wheel chair
safely.

Brian W

On Tue, 30 Mar 2004 08:05:58 -0500, "beachnut"
<reladata RemoveThis @bellsouth.net> wrote:

 >I would go for a larger bass boat since it is wide and relatively
 >stable, and eliminate
 >the wheelchair, and replace it with a special seat on a slide,
 >two rails on the length of the boat, so the height would
 >be low and the center of gravity therefore low.
 >. The seat could spin around,
 >you could get anywhere on the boat. If you had dock
 >access you could put in a swing-out crane so someone
 >could drive up in his handicapped converted vehicle,
 >operate the crane, lift himself out of the wheelchair on the
 >dock, get into the boat and take off..
 >
 >"ahop" <ahop18 RemoveThis @yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
 >news:2d61b5d9.0403290135.5cc10110@posting.google.com...
  >> Can anyone tell me how I would go about converting a small 14 foot
  >> boat for a wheelchair passenger - and is there any companies in the uk
  >> that specialise in this.
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Converting boat for wheelchair access 

I don't think 14 ft is to short. I have in front of me a study plan for 15
ft centre console plywood fishing boat (Good Enough 15 from Scott Sprague,
Paulsbo WA, USA) with a small cabin enclosing the console which could
accomodate a wheel chair. My cousin has been a parapalegic ever since a
car crash at the age of 16 and has a boat and cottage. The boat is the
same sort of V-bow flat run centre console planing skiff. I've only seen
photos of the cousin's boat. That boat's probably 18 ft. It has to have
the volume and freeboard to handle the large waves on the big shallow lake
at his cottage.


--
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
William R Watt National Capital FreeNet Ottawa's free community network
homepage: www.ncf.ca/~ag384/top.htm
warning: non-freenet email must have "notspam" in subject or it's returned
 >> Stay informed about: Converting boat for wheelchair access 

A lot of not-very-helpful responses, but as noted by someone else, a good
more detail from the original poster would be helpful. "Wheelchair
passenger" could indicate anything on a wide spectrum of mobility/functional
limitations, and says nothing about boating experience, preferences, or
skills. Likewise, the trip locale and conditions, hull design and power,
and skipper's skills are (as always) vital considerations.

That said, Bob Hicks, editor/publisher of 'Messing about in Boats' magazine
has written of his experiences working with disabled friends in kayaks. As
I recall, the paddler had plenty of upper body strength and coordination -
getting in and out took a bit of thinking, and excursions were subject to a
super-dose of prudence and planning.


  > > Can anyone tell me how I would go about converting a small 14 foot
  > > boat for a wheelchair passenger - and is there any companies in the uk
  > > that specialise in this.
 >
 > Ottawa has a handicapped sailing school at the the Nepean Sailing Club.
 > I'm sure there must be handicapped kayaking, hard not to with so much
 > publicity and marketing around kayaks. (Would not be surprized to hear of
 > some group promoting kayaking as a means of bringing about world peace.)
 > I'd try searching the Internet for hadicapped boating. You might get some
 > info or a contact at <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.nsc.ca" target="_blank">www.nsc.ca</a> (Nepean Sailing Club).
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Converting boat for wheelchair access 

ahop18 RemoveThis @yahoo.co.uk (ahop) wrote in message news:<2d61b5d9.0403290135.5cc10110 RemoveThis @posting.google.com>...
 > Can anyone tell me how I would go about converting a small 14 foot
 > boat for a wheelchair passenger - and is there any companies in the uk
 > that specialise in this.

A friend of Dynamite Payson, Bruce Gray I think his name is, built
some boats for paraplegics; there may still be a website. The idea
that he used, that I have not seen noted here, is building a boat that
someone could be in, without the chair. Custom seat, proper hand rails
etc... I think it is a good idea. Seems easier to provide a stable
seat for someone without control of their legs, and you don't have to
worry about floating a person and a chair in the event of a problem. A
properly fitted seat, smartly placed hand grabs designed to take
advantage of the users "good parts", a proper PFD, proper
instruction/experience, and good old common sense, and there are many
boats, small and large, that these folks could be a free in as the
rest of us. Mr. Gray had used a modified version of Rubens Nymph, (a
wide Bolger box) and fitted it for wheelchair bound folks. Each boat
is of course custom based on the user's ability. This boat is 8 feet x
5 feet rowboat.
Anyway, just a thought, Scotty from SmallBoats.com<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Converting boat for wheelchair access 

Hi

"Rick Tyler" <rhtyler.DeleteThis@comcast.net> skrev i en meddelelse
news:17hg60hn5pbprn0an5c8mh1a0v7k2phni2@4ax.com...
 > On 29 Mar 2004 01:35:44 -0800, ahop18.DeleteThis@yahoo.co.uk (ahop) wrote:
 > 1. Fourteen feet is really small.
 > 2. If you start cutting holes for a ramp you may irreparably harm the
 > strength of the boat.
 > 3. Here's an approach that might work if you need a small
 > wheelchair-friendly boat:
<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.bateau.com/plans/misc/GP16_study.htm</font" target="_blank">http://www.bateau.com/plans/misc/GP16_study.htm</font</a>>
 >

That boat seem to be the best suggestion in this tread untill now for
several resons. Still Im'e quite sure that if you try compleatly rethink
and not just convert ,a whole lot of options would show. Please lat me
explain ;
Emagine the GP16 was fittet with water ballast tanks and the guy in the
wheelchair by remote control could navigate the boat with a small electric
motor, he could beach the boat and make the water ballast make is stable
while entering. After you entered you pump out the water from the tanks and
is afloat.
The other issue is the wheelchair that we all emagine as two big and two
small wheels -------- not please don't think Im'e trying to make a bad joke,
but for going sailing it would be a good idea to replace the tradisional
wheelchair with one better suited for the short trip from the car onto the
boat. Realy I would think that replacing the wheels with some sort of
belts, would make sailing a much easier thing , ------- Still doing both it
would mean rigging a small electric motor and a remote control, installing
water ballast tanks and pumps, beside making a wheelchair with belts instead
of wheels, ------- but it might just work.
And it maby even could make it so, that the guy in the wheelchair, could go
sailing without the need of a helper.

P.C.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Converting boat for wheelchair access 

Hi

"ahop" <ahop18 DeleteThis @yahoo.co.uk> skrev i en meddelelse
news:2d61b5d9.0403290135.5cc10110@posting.google.com...
 > Can anyone tell me how I would go about converting a small 14 foot
 > boat for a wheelchair passenger - and is there any companies in the uk
 > that specialise in this.

What's wrong with seperate float steps like this, ------ like a pontoon
inbetween a pontoon harbout bridge and the boat ;

<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://home20.inet.tele.dk/h-3d/float-5.jpg" target="_blank">http://home20.inet.tele.dk/h-3d/float-5.jpg</a>

P.C.


P.C.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Converting boat for wheelchair access