Access for Disabled Sailor

captainrizzo · #1 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008

I recently purchased an Irwin 31 Citation and have a few ideas on how I can get my son (Jamie) from his wheelchair to the cockpit. In both of our previous sailboats, Jamie was able to transfer from the dock to the boat with minimal assistance. He has great upper body strengh and weighs about 100 pounds! The dock that I will be renting for our new boat is 5 feet off the water, significantly higher than the rail. I plan to use a bosun's chair and the main halyard to hoist him with another line from the bosun's chair fed through block and tackle attached to a piling on the opposite side of the dock and then to a primary winch. This should keep him from swinging into the mast (he will appreciate that)! Easing the line would allow him to slowly swing from the dock to a distance above the cockpit, and then the halyard could be eased to lower him. Obviously, I will first need to test this concept with a weight or an able bodied person (probably me)!

I am hoping that some of you may have experience with this and can weigh in. Any other thoughts or resources would be great.

Chris

Freesail99 · #2 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008

Chris, there was another thread on this subject within the past 2 months. You may want to do a search.

Freesail99 · #3 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008

This is the tread I was thinking of.

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/showth...light=Disabled

captainrizzo · #4 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008

Thanks Freesail99 for finding that link for me. I read through the thread and was unable to find anything relating to boarding or disembarking. Conceptually, my idea should work don't you think?

Freesail99 · #5 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008

Your welcome. It sounds like a plan, I just hate to see the kid fall into the water. The bosun's chair does sound like a good idea. It's a slow night on sailnet. I'm sure others will have some ideas. Best of luck.

sailingdog · #6 (**permalink**) 02-24-2008

Do you have a dinghy davit or hoist installed on your boat?? That would probably make more sense than a bosun's chair and be simpler to use. If you don't have one, you might considering getting one built or instaleld on your boat. Garhauermarine.com makes some nice semi-custom ones for a reasonable price.

Freesail99 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-24-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailingdog

Do you have a dinghy davit or hoist installed on your boat?? That would probably make more sense than a bosun's chair and be simpler to use. If you don't have one, you might considering getting one built or installed on your boat. Garhauermarine.com makes some nice semi-custom ones for a reasonable price.

If I am reading what the OP said correctly, the davit would need to be mounted to the dock, not the boat.

Gryzio · #8 (**permalink**) 02-24-2008

This one of those things that you customize for the particular person. Been there done that "Many" times. Not only getting people in and out but being able to take control of the boat without others intervening.

From what I understand the Dock will be higher than the Boat? As mentioned a davit or some type of lift would seem more practical mounted to the dock? Which also frees up space on the boat.

First you may need to discuss this with the dock owner. Most times something can be modified and later put back to original. The reason I say this; if the dock owner is apprehensive of what you do, you can explain that should you move on later the dock can be restored to how it was. Hope I make sense?

Also, a neighboring boat may need consideration. So, you may want to mention your plans to that person. I would be excited to help my neighbor and be willing to help fix things like this. Some people may grump it gets in their way. Though I have never seen those types as of yet.

I wanted to give this;
http://www.sailing.org/ifds.php?PHPS...682eafb63b500c

I not know much of this, but, did find them browsing about a month ago. May be able to Contact them for some ideas on things.

sailingdog · #9 (**permalink**) 02-24-2008

I would prefer to see it mounted on the boat.

My thinking is that if one could be engineered to be high enough to be mounted on the stern of the boat, and get his son on and off the dock in question here, it would probably work at most of the other docks he and his son might have to tie up to. Mounting it on the dock only solves the problem with this one dock... but mounting it on the boat solves the problem for the boat at many docks.

Chances are pretty good that this isn't the only dock they're probably going to need to get him off and on the boat at... just the one they'll deal with the most. This also gets around the problems of a dock owner or neighbor not wanting something permanently affixed to the dock.

Gryzio · #10 (**permalink**) 02-24-2008

True, it takes a lot of thought as to what a particular person will need.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailingdog

I would prefer to see it mounted on the boat. My thinking is that if one could be engineered to be high enough to be mounted on the stern of the boat, and get his son on and off the dock in question here, it would probably work at most of the other docks he and his son might have to tie up to. Mounting it on the dock only solves the problem with this one dock... but mounting it on the boat solves the problem for the boat at many docks. This isn't the only dock they're probably going to need to get him off and on the boat at... just the one they'll deal with the most.