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  1. #1
    Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Manchester
    Posts
    2

    Handicapped accessible bass boat project

    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 (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.

  2. Ft Gibson Lake America lakefolk's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Wagoner OK
    Posts
    30,808
    #2

    Re: Handicapped accessible bass boat project (MFD_Firefighter661)

    I wouldn't mess with that. Find you an old pontoon boat and strip all (or most) of the furniture off of it. If you look around enough you can find them very cheap. The room on a toon would be much better for wheelchairs etc.


    "Being a winner is more than getting a first place trophy, it is acting like the effort was an honor and the trophy is just a decoration."

    "A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him"

  3. Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Dirty South
    Posts
    7,431
    #3

    Re: Handicapped accessible bass boat project (MFD_Firefighter661)

    First, Welcome to BBC.

    I seen an old Ranger 300 series a few years ago on eBay, that was handy-caped accessible. The guy that owned it had a system that he built his self. He made a set of rails than started where the drivers seat was. He had a special seat that he sat in to drive the boat. Once done, his chair would slide on the rails to the left until he cleared the console, then he would travel upward on rails to the front deck, where he fished. It was amazing. It was motorized and very nice. So I know it can be done. I can't remember how much that boat sold for, but it was a hell of alot.

    I would check with the dealers that install those systems in vans and stuff, its the same principle. If you could figure it out, and make a good safe system, you could get a patent and start a business. You would make alot of dreams come true.

    You guys make your profession proud for trying to help disabled people do things most of us take for granted.

    Good Luck

  4. Banned
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Lake St. Louis, MO
    Posts
    10,632
    #4

    Re: Handicapped accessible bass boat project (MFD_Firefighter661)

    I like the pontoon idea.
    But, if you guys are considering the tri-hull boat, here is a good read. Scroll all the way to the end of the story and you'll see how he opened the whole boat up.
    http://70silverline.250free.com/Skankybeast.html

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