Advice on Transporting Disabled Aboard

[tater76]

Hey folks, I am new to this particular forum, but a long time Force and Chrysler forum member. I am curious if any other boaters out there have to transfer a disabled person into their boat? I have to transfer my lovely wife, who loves to boat, fish, and play in the water more than any gal I ever met. She has a form of Muscular Dystrophy (she's a Jerry's Kid, you know, Labor Day Telethon) It affects her strength, thus making her like a parapalegic with limited upper body strength. We have a 16ft Crestliner Trihull with an open bow that works great for our situation. I would like to buy a bigger, newer boat, but the trihull is the only one that I can get the bow close enough to the dock to load the wife. The open bow is the only safe and comfortable spot for her to ride out of her chair.

Now the main issue is we go out with just myself, wife, and daughter very often. My daughter and I get the boat redied, and I pick up my wife from her chair, swing her into the bow from the dock, and set her down. This can be challenging at times to say the least. However, we have a great system down and get 15-20+ trips a summer. That said, I am not getting any younger, and transferring a 120# person is becoming difficult. So..... anyone have ideas besides get another adult to help?

I am thinking a pontoon boat may be the next step, as we could just put a ramp straight to the boat deck. Any thoughts are appreciated

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Advice on Transporting Disabled Aboard

How about making the front of the bow rider a platform like a fishing boat. You could wheel her across like a pontoon and if you put in a low pedestal seat, you would not need to take her down into the rear passenger compartment. I assume you don't drive fast with her aboard but perhaps an added seat belt would add some safety.

 

[blifsey]

Re: Advice on Transporting Disabled Aboard

Public dock or your own private? If private, you could probably rig up a davit (like they lift tenders and stuff off big yachts) to the dock or some type of boarding plank.

I have seen an add-on boarding walkway for pontoons that is fitted under the pontoon to the bottom of the deck. For shoreline access, you just slide it out and lay end of shore. I reminded me a lot of the loading ramps built into rear of U-Haul rental trucks.

I think a pontoon would be much more adaptable then V hull type boat.

 

[blifsey]

Re: Advice on Transporting Disabled Aboard

Found this on youtube...basically converted the swinging side entry "gate" on pontoon to a fold down ramp.

 

[tater76]

Re: Advice on Transporting Disabled Aboard

Thanks for the advice guys, I should have mentioned that the open bow of my boat has actually been fitted with a flat deck. The PO removed all the cushions, then bolted a sheet of 3/4" plywood, carpeted it, and installed a pedestal seat base in the center. We just throw a blanket and pillows down, and my wife and daughter sit up front. And yes Frank, I don't often do any high speed stuff with the wife aboard (she won't let me) blifsey, thanks for the vid that is awesome! I have never been a huge fan of pontoon boats, but as I have gotten older the need for speed with the family is dwindling. I think I will start cruising CL for a used toon I have a trailor fabricator buddy that could weld up a ramp like the one in the vid for next to nothing. Once again, Awesome!! and thanks guys, I will keep you posted.

 

[EddiePetty]

Re: Advice on Transporting Disabled Aboard

Nutin' to do with your boat. I just wanted to say that I admire you for your devotion and dedication to your spouse and family.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Advice on Transporting Disabled Aboard

Good man.

 

[tschmidty]

Re: Advice on Transporting Disabled Aboard

Pontoon will be the easiest for sure. Plus you have a lot of flexibility to move/change furniture as needed, gentler ride, etc. You could actually make space she could move around some, and put hooks to hold her wheel chair.

May be outside your budget, but some of the newer tri toons have great performance.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Advice on Transporting Disabled Aboard

10-4 on the toon and I'm sure she has the very best of self-righting life jackets. What goes around comes around. You are unselfish in wanting her with you and you get rewarded by seeing her have a good time.....I think they call that LOVE!

Mark

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Advice on Transporting Disabled Aboard

I agree with the pontoon suggestion.

Another great set-up for bow loading is the Carolina Skiff. On the J series you can put a big flat deck--we have one on a 19' that is uses mostly as a work boat transporting equipment, materials, people and gear to an island. The DLV series has a great built in, that starts with a flat deck then molded steps down. And these boats are very easy to modify/customize.

In addition to the set-up, they are extremely stable and safe, and float high, and have very high sides on the interior/freeboard on exterior.

there are other brands such as Skimmer and Bay Runner that are essentially the same boat.

If you are a trailer boater they should be a lot easier than a pontoon to manage, I would think.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Advice on Transporting Disabled Aboard

I have rented the skiff in S. Louisiana and agree with the stability and all. Agree on ease of transport. However the big boat may handle "necessary" amenities that might be large for the skiff.....but not my call.

Mark

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Advice on Transporting Disabled Aboard

May be outside your budget, but some of the newer tri toons have great performance.

Was thinking the same thing, although 'budget' doesn't apply... Last year I was cruising up river at just a hair under 50 mph. Tritoon passes me with a decent margin, he was probably doing around 60 or a little under. I was going to pace him to see exactly how fast, but I would rather not know than know I can't keep up with a pontoon! (I had a couple people in the boat, so that is my excuse... With a light load I can hit 60 on the gps.)

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

Re: Advice on Transporting Disabled Aboard

I know this is an older thread but I tripped across this and thought of you and your wife Tater. Somewhat like what blifsey mentioned but I figured I'd share.

 

[sea unt]

Re: Advice on Transporting Disabled Aboard

Nutin' to do with your boat. I just wanted to say that I admire you for your devotion and dedication to your spouse and family.

Well put. I second that.

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Advice on Transporting Disabled Aboard

I too have secret thoughts about a tritoon. At least they make more sense to me than hockey.