Handicapped accessible bass boat project...

[MFD_Firefighter661]

Hey all,

I am in need of some help and opinions. Me and a buddy of mine were thinking about buying a boat and making this a handicapped accessible boat to take disabled children and elderly fishing in that would not normally be able to go by themselves. We have found a fiberglass boat, motor and trailer for two hundred dollars that we are thinking of buying and using for the build. We are not sure of the model but it is an older bass boat with the tri-hull design (would this be stabe enough?). The motor was said to be running when it was parked and that was 3 years ago. The prop is missing on it and we are not sure we would want to toss a bunch of money at a hopeless motor. We have thought about making this an electric powered boat in order to give us more space on the fishing decks. And since it will be with disabled people we are not too worried on going fast. We would like to deck the entire boat. As far as making it accessible we would like to put some type of ramp that could fold out of the way when fishing, and we need a way to be able to remove the rear fishing seat in order to put in wheelchairs for kids that would need to stay in them. Also we are looking for a way to be able to secure the chair to the boat for safety reasons. Since me and my buddy are both EMT's and Firefighters are income is very limited and since we are going to need to refinish most of the boat (deck, carpet, trolling motors, wiring, paint, seats) we need to try to keep all of the costs to a minimum to be able to afford this. Any suggestions you guys may have would be a great help to us both since this will be both of our first builds. Thank you in advance

 

[maxum247]

Re: Handicapped accessible bass boat project...

With the bass boat or any smaller boat you will have issues with the boat wanting to move around at the dock, you can tie one off to the dock pretty tight , but even then it will move. Depending on the disability of the person some may be able to board rather effortlessly while others would need to be carried aboard, if the boat were to shift up or down back and fourth you both may go down. My concern is the wheelchair bound. A ramp that will stay in positon under that kind of weight and the weight of the person or persons trying to load it will make the boat unstable. With the best designed ramp, a small boat will move at its mooring. Second thought would be a lift to swing the person from the dock to a waiting chair already aboard the boat. As far as fastening them in so they are secure during the trip you could use a lapbelt from an automobile fastened to the deck of the boat, or some sort wheel chock that would lock into the deck and secure the chair to it with an ajustable strap.
With the money that you may invest in repairs you may want to look into a small pontoon, its amazing what a 9.9- 4 stroke will shove and there quite and clean.
With the poontoon you,ll be able to sinch the toon tight to the dock and the difference in the stability of it will be like night and day. Your'e working with a flat surface and that's in your favor and the disabled in case you need to get to some one quickly, imagine trying to get someone from a chair to the deck to help them if need be, I feel these are areas that need to be planned in advance. The pontoon affords you those luxuries more readly.
This toon could make things easier for everyone involed in general and safer and more injoyable for everyone involved. I feel you would have more room,a more stable craft with the large deck, and it knocks out some of the fabaracation problems you would face with any other small craft.
You have a worthy cause here and I wish you the best! I hope there,s something here that will be of help.
God Bless!

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Handicapped accessible bass boat project...

Pontoon Boat with a rail that will stop wheel chair wheels and a side rail that folds down. Have locking points installed on the floor too.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Handicapped accessible bass boat project...

i agree with Bob, a basic pontoon, with the seat configured in the center so the rails are free for fishing. wireless trolling motor on the bow, for easy control. you could use pop up cleats for securing wheel chairs.

 

[bassboy1]

Re: Handicapped accessible bass boat project...

Basically get a toon, and strip the interior down. Since it sounds like you want them to be in wheel chairs, you will probably want a clear deck, and strong side rails. Your only impediment should be a small steering console, and I would make it so that you can get a wheelchair behind it, as no matter how slow the boat is, it still will give someone joy to be able to take her from the dock to the fishing hole. You may want a bench seat on the very stern, so that non wheel chair people have a seat, and more importantly, you have a bit of storage. Rods can be hung horizontally along the rails. A bimini top, or even better, one of those pontoon hard tops would provide a lot of shade.
Since the people you are taking most likely wouldn't get to fish, they aren't going to care a flip about how it looks, they will just be overjoyed to get to go. Therefore you shouldn't waste a penny on cosmetics. Your two major money holes will be a pontoon, and trailer, and a small outboard. On a 16 footer, 15 will make you move, and 40 would probably be plenty. Then, if the deck is soft, a couple sheets of plywood (doesn't have to be marine grade) and a coat of non skid paint will fix it. The rails may need some strengthening, but with a little ingenuity, and some square aluminum tubing, you should fix that just fine. Then, a simple console, just enough to hand the throttle, steering wheel, and maybe a gauge or so will do just fine. The bench seat at the back, can also be made of plywood, if you decide to put one there. You may want some deck tie down cleats. Use your imagination.

For your ramp, you may want to steal the idea member Bond-o used on his barge. He drives up to a ramp, and grounds the bow, creating a steady platform. Then, he has a hydraulic ramp that lowers, and his equipment is driven onto the barge. You ground the nose on the boat ramp, and then have a ramp to roll the wheel chairs on with. You probably will want some sort of drop in slot on the bow, and then pegs on the ramp to lock them together. If you really wanted to get fancy, you could get an old truck ramp (from a 15 foot moving van) and it's slides, so the ramp would slide underneath, between the 'toons. Gate the bow, and walla, for not much money, you have a very effective fishing machine.

That is a great idea you have. It is good to see people helping others out, in a way that your average joe doesn't think to help them. You can send all the donations you want to these hospitals, and disabled vet centers, but what the people really want, is someone to take them hunting or fishing, and to be with them.

 

[Nandy]

Re: Handicapped accessible bass boat project...

I agree with my fellow forum members. A pontoon will be the best choice. As far as the money. Get in touch with the large grocery stores and bussines in your area. They love to have their name attach to stuff like that. The boat you have now is what you have, but see if you can get a hold of a toon. If you are in the Charlotte, nc area I will love to help. Get your location in your profile, maybe someone else can help. Watch for craigslist.org.

 

[MFD_Firefighter661]

Re: Handicapped accessible bass boat project...

Thank you all to have replied. Would have thought about getting a pontoon boat for this project. However, we have not been able to locate any that have an affordable price tag for us.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Handicapped accessible bass boat project...

watch ebay, there was one in a stripped fashion just a couple of days ago

 

[Nandy]

Re: Handicapped accessible bass boat project...

Where are you guys located? There might be someone here that knwos where one is or can keep eyes open for y'all.

 

[maxum247]

Re: Handicapped accessible bass boat project...

Firefighter check your private messages, upper right corner of page, let me know what you think.