Handicapped

[john3931]

This may be an unusual question. My mother had a stroke a couple years ago. She is 86. She has trouble walking because of pain in her legs. I really want to take her out on the boat. How can we get her on and off the boat?
I figure from the dock is the easiest but probably the most dangerous. On the trailer is the safest but the hardest.
Should I just leave well enough alone?

 

[eaglejim]

Re: Handicapped

My mother in law went thru the same thing we thought about what you want to do and came to the conclusion that it was not going to happen it would have been to stressful for her,plus to get her to the water was a 2 hour ride in itself.mrseagle (a nurse by trade) spent the 7 years of her Moms life making sure she was conferable and I spent it making sure mrseagle was ok going boating when we could.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Handicapped

I do Wish -a -Fish evey year. We take disabled or terminally ill kids out fishing for the day. We've also taken out disable veterans from Walter Reed a couple of time.

Not sure how big your boat is but a wheel chair is surprisingly easy to lift in and out of a boat if you have some help.

http://www.wish-a-fish.org/

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Handicapped

Are there other areas where you can launch from that may have better acess?
Maybe someplace where you could beach the boat? It may not be doable but..

I think anybody that spends a lot of time in a wheelchair or always looking at the same walls needs to feel the wind in their hair and the water under their feet....Wouldn't you??

p.s.

I used to pick up my Grandmother from the nursing home and take her for a drive in my 66 Chevelle...She would tell me to open her up!!!

Highlight was doing a big loud smoking burnout for 2 blocks with Grams squealin with delight...

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: Handicapped

had a friend, now deceased, that we would load wheelchair and all into the back of the old LoneStar from the dock. there was plenty of room.
as long as you have enough able bodys to lift you should be ok.

note; this guy did not consider himself disabled-did not use handicaped parking and you did not push his chair unless he ask you to. ( up & down steps or at the sandy beach)
He taught me not to complain too much.

 

[109jb]

Re: Handicapped

Don't know where you are at, but how about renting a pontoon?

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: Handicapped

Guess it depend if she wants to go or you want to take her. If she is up for going I'd figure out a way even if I had to have some freinds meet me at the docks to help load. But if she doesn't wan't to be there then it may be stressful for her. If it's not doable on a boat and she likes to fish just wheel it to a good spot and sit and fish with mom and talk, that's more fun than a boat anyday.

 

[evildocrsx]

Re: Handicapped

What about putting her in the boat before you put the boat in the water. Then you put the boat in the water with mom inside sitting down.

 

[rjlipscomb]

Re: Handicapped

I have found the easiest way to get the elderly in and out of my boat was at the dock with me standing on the boat as they used me as a support rail.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Handicapped

you can have them sit on the edge of the dock, and then into the boat. where there is a will, there is a way. my roommate is 70, and overweight, she sits on the side of the dock then steps on the seat. getting out steps on the seat, then crawls onto the dock, away from the edge.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Handicapped

John, the courtesy docks at Lake Clarke are pretty darn nice. On a calm day I think as long as you had someone to help you with her, I don't think it would be too difficult (for you or her) to get her boarded from the docks. (The ramp docks suck but the courtesy docks are nice).

I took my 82 year old grandmother out for a ride last year down at Clarke. It turned out NOT to be a calm day but she's in pretty good health. I thought about canceling but we went out anyway. I did manage to find some smooth water down near the dam so we managed to have a nice ride anyway and she enjoyed it very much.

 

[john3931]

Re: Handicapped

Thank you so much for the replies. One thing that makes me feel better is it doesn't seem to be a far fetched idea. I was afraid it would be more of a......
What would you do that for. Endangering the elderly!!
Ezmobee, I was figuring in using the courtesy docks like you said as long as the water is pretty calm. The top of my boat is pretty even with dock so I think if she sits down and slides in. I was thinking of laying the back to back seats down to give more room.
Like we always joke around home......
I can fall down.
I would definitively play it safe and put a vest on her before entering the dock.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Handicapped

My brother is in a chair (MS) he had a fender cover for working on a car that we would lay over the gunnel and then a couple of us would kind of lift and roll the chair onto the boat.

Floating docks seem easier.

That's a real nice thing your wanting to do, best of luck

 

[john3931]

Re: Handicapped

I never thought of rolling the wheel chair down into the boat.
Sounds like a good idea. Easier on her.

 

[captharv]

Re: Handicapped

The type II style (ski vest) just in case.....
Handicapped people are at higher risk, better to be safe.
We were next to a boater at a ramp who had a block and tackle to a tree to hoist the wheelchair and the person into a boat before launching.
Where there's a will there's a way