handicapped boating...-gctid393595

[Guest]

hi all, it's been quite a while since i last posted on the boc, no t that i didsn't want to but because i have been "under the weather for a while, on the morning of march 25th i was hit with a tia stroke and then due to a mix up of meds at the hospital i was hit again th next day with a Hemorrhagic stroke if any one not familiar with either of these, suffice to say that i wouldn't wish one of these on my worst enemy.the result of the strokes has left me wheel chair bound and some paralysis on my left side given these problems i am not sure if i will be boating this yer at all, so i'm trying to find ou what is out there for boaters with handicaps. my son and i went and looked at th bot on Saturday to try and figure ou some way fo me to board my boat , but fo the life of us we couldn't figure any way to get me safely on board the old girl. i' m not worried adout boarding with my wheelchair, i'm jut trying to figure ou how to just get me standing in the cabin.if i can't get on board th old girl i might have to sell it and get something that fits me and my handicap.i hope everyone understands that i am not trying to preach to you , but since my strokes i have been told that there are tests that your doctor or cardiologist can run to identify those that may be at risk for a stroke or heart attract. i urge all of you to take a few minutes and sit down with your family physician or cardiologist and get yourselves tested , i certainly wish i had, instead i am now going through therapy to learn how to walk and feed myself.

regards,

pat

[RinnyBeth]

I am aware of strokes and the issues you are going through. We hope for a speedy recovery. As for making your boat ADA acessable.. I would contact a contractor for boats and ask them to come and give you an esitmate. Then take what plans he gave you and try and do it yourself cheaper. He can give you great ideas with rails, ramps and just everyday comforts you will need. I would invest in a wheeled walker, they make narrow ones with seats for on the boat, they fold up out of the way too when not in use. They have adapitive arm rests for use for stroke patients, so you could use the walkers and not confined to a wheelchair.

I bring my mom on our 3888, she uses a wheeled walker and half her right side is numb or just cuts loose like a mini stroke would. We have a nice large stainless steel swimstep with rails she can grab coming aboard. You can get a platform acorss the dock to get on yours. She takes one step at a time going down to the galley for the first berth we give her when on board, since its got a private head there for her thats not far to travel too and easier to get around it in. The rails on the helm work great, and the back cockpit is perfect for her with her padding and chairs...

[iceclimber]

I am awfully sorry to hear about your situation, and best wishes for a speedy recovery. I appreciate your thoughts and advice to get tested. I hope a different style of boat will get you back on the water some day soon.

[Guest]

How about something like this http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...=SPM5918728001

[RinnyBeth]

tank1023 wrote:
How about something like this http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...=SPM5918728001

you can make one of them cheaper using a crabpot puller.. or if you know someone with a pipe bender.. just add the hoyer lift sling.. they are under 100.00 at any medical supply store.. heck check ebay could get cheaper

[Iproff]

HeadinSouth wrote:
hi all, it's been quite a while since i last posted on the boc, no t that i didsn't want to but because i have been "under the weather for a while, on the morning of march 25th i was hit with a tia stroke and then due to a mix up of meds at the hospital i was hit again th next day with a Hemorrhagic stroke if any one not familiar with either of these, suffice to say that i wouldn't wish one of these on my worst enemy.the result of the strokes has left me wheel chair bound and some paralysis on my left side given these problems i am not sure if i will be boating this yer at all, so i'm trying to find ou what is out there for boaters with handicaps. my son and i went and looked at th bot on Saturday to try and figure ou some way fo me to board my boat , but fo the life of us we couldn't figure any way to get me safely on board the old girl. i' m not worried adout boarding with my wheelchair, i'm jut trying to figure ou how to just get me standing in the cabin.if i can't get on board th old girl i might have to sell it and get something that fits me and my handicap.i hope everyone understands that i am not trying to preach to you , but since my strokes i have been told that there are tests that your doctor or cardiologist can run to identify those that may be at risk for a stroke or heart attract. i urge all of you to take a few minutes and sit down with your family physician or cardiologist and get yourselves tested , i certainly wish i had, instead i am now going through therapy to learn how to walk and feed myself.

regards,

pat

I hope that you are able to recover from the strokes. Power Boat Television did a segment on a fellow that has a boat in Midland Ontario that is wheel chair bound. His boat is at Doral Marine and they did a custom dock for him so he could get his wheel chair down to the edge of his boat. He also teamed up with a fellow that did rigging for sail boats and he custom built a lift mechanism that lifted him on the boat but also custom built three lifts on the boat that allow him to get to the helm, down below and into the forward birth. The systems are electric so he can do every thing by him self. The episode was aired not all that long ago in Canada. I believe the program is aired in the States but I have included the link to the show and their web site. I'm sure they can tell you which episode it was and if a copy is available.

The marina is only an 1.20 min drive away and if you want I could call and see if I can meet the fellow that had the custom work done on his boat take some pictures and get an e-mail address or a phone number. Let me know.

Ken

http://www.powerboattv.com/index.php

PS

The episode is posted 2012 episode 8. You need to click on the icon that has him sitting on a chair on the stern of the boat. The first 3 minutes is on a Meridian then the segment that you want to watch.

http://www.powerboattv.com/view-content/46/2012-Episode-8-Belle-River-PWC-Races.html

[Guest]

Best wishes for a speedy recovery and a return to the seas.

[Guest]

Pat, I'm sorry to say that all I can offer you are my prayers for a speedy, and thorough recovery.

And you've got them.

Work hard on your progress, Pat and be patient.

All my very best to you.

Sarah

[Guest]

One of my fishing/hunting friends has been in a wheelchair for 38 years from a motorcycle accident. We elk hunt together, pheasant hunt together, and fish together (on his boat and mine). His lack of being limited by his handicap is due to his attitude. He says, "I never look at something I want to do thinking 'I can't', I always approach every new activity thinking, 'How can I do this?'." Good luck on your rehab.

[Guest]

wow...sorry to hear this pat...our hopes and prayers to you in a speedy recovery and back to boating..

:arr ar

[captharv]

Had a guy in our cruise club a while back. They had a "crane" installed like the type used for putting a dinghie into the water from the deck of a large boat. They ran the line down to the dock and hoisted the wheelchair and him into the boat. His family helpped him to the helm and was able to operate the boat OK.

The next probably goes without saying, however:

Being one who was CG Auxiliary safety for 26 years, WEAR A LIFEJACKET!

Something like an inflatable, or a type III vest.

It looks like now you want to live the life you had before. Go for it.

I am impressed.

[Guest]

captharv wrote:
Had a guy in our cruise club a while back. They had a "crane" installed like the type used for putting a dinghie into the water from the deck of a large boat. They ran the like down to the dock and hoisted the wheelchair and him into the boat. His family helpped him to the helm and was able to operate the boat OK.

The next probably goes without saying, however:

Being one who was CG Auxiliary safety for 26 years, WEAR A LIFEJACKET!just purchased an a stearnsautomatic inflatable vest yesterday.

Something like an inflatable, or a type III vest.

I[SIZE]4 wrote:
t looks like now you want to live the life you had before.[/SIZE] ( absolutly!!!) Go for it.

I am impressed.

lik e others hve suggested install some typ of crane,however here in no. goergia we don't hve too many folks installing cranes for hoisting crab traps , so i'll nnedd some i dea as to where to purchase an how to mount. any help would be appreciated keep the ideas comming. i need all th help i can get thanks, pat

[Guest]

Seems like a lot of the very well intentioned suggestions would require special dock facilities, and still don't really address how you would access the cabin of your boat. My heart goes out to you and I hope you make a full recovery and can get back to boat soon. Have you considered a deck type of boat?

[Guest]

what a great group of people.... thank you for your ideas and well wishes, they are sincerely appreciated.:worth

regards,

pat

[Patrevan]

Just wondering....have you made any decisions on the boat. I can't help thinking that that the pontoon boat seems like a heck of an idea. There are bound to be other, like minded people out there and it would be great if there was a spot on BOC where such individuals could come and get some good advice. Godspeed Pat in your recovery.