Would anyone have any idea how to get a disabled person on a sailboat safely and without scareing them?Thank you
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Depends on a lot of things
I guess that would depend on the boat, the level of disablity, the size of the individual, the dock conditions. I might suggest asking the diabled person's occupational or physical therapist if they have one. They're experts at this kind of thing One suggestion might be to use a bosun's chair and the mast/boom as a kind of crane. Again, this would depend on the level of disability and whether or not the boat is large enough to remain stable during the process. I hope this thread generates a lot of responses. I'd love to take my 88 y/o mother sailing.
I guess that would depend on the boat, the level of disablity, the size of the individual, the dock conditions. I might suggest asking the diabled person's occupational or physical therapist if they have one. They're experts at this kind of thing One suggestion might be to use a bosun's chair and the mast/boom as a kind of crane. Again, this would depend on the level of disability and whether or not the boat is large enough to remain stable during the process. I hope this thread generates a lot of responses. I'd love to take my 88 y/o mother sailing.
Contact Don Backe
the director of Chesapeake Regional Accessible Boating (CRAB)for some thoughts and ideas. See link. They take disabled persons for sails on the bay using relatively small (modified) boats. A great organization.
the director of Chesapeake Regional Accessible Boating (CRAB)for some thoughts and ideas. See link. They take disabled persons for sails on the bay using relatively small (modified) boats. A great organization.
Boarding A Disabled Person
I'm a disabled individual and have been single handed sailing for over 25 yrs. so I may be of help. I would say that it depends upon the abilites of the disabled person. Most folks in wheelchairs have very good upper body strength and then that depends on if they can lift their own body weight. I have an O'Day 23 and I recently encountered a similar problem of boarding an over weight person, I had them just sit on the edge of the boat, lean back to the corner of the cabin roof, and swing their legs over then side down on the seat. You do have to beware of a floating dock when transferring the persons weight. I may also suggest a boarding plank / ramp of some form where the person can transfer from their chair, up to the edge of the boat, and in by the perviously suggested manner. But in anyway, I would suggest that another person remain in the center of the cockpit to protect the boarding person from rolling into the cockpit floor, or even worse, into the combanionway and down into the the cabin, in an uncontrolled manner.........been there done that.....I don't recommend that.....its hurts like hell ! And lastly, I'm not sure I would use a bosin seat either......Too uncontrolled. And also, unless your boat is a larger model (30' +) you might find your standing rig coming down on top of everything. Hope this helps to all concerned. Bob Burns Louisville, Ohio
I'm a disabled individual and have been single handed sailing for over 25 yrs. so I may be of help. I would say that it depends upon the abilites of the disabled person. Most folks in wheelchairs have very good upper body strength and then that depends on if they can lift their own body weight. I have an O'Day 23 and I recently encountered a similar problem of boarding an over weight person, I had them just sit on the edge of the boat, lean back to the corner of the cabin roof, and swing their legs over then side down on the seat. You do have to beware of a floating dock when transferring the persons weight. I may also suggest a boarding plank / ramp of some form where the person can transfer from their chair, up to the edge of the boat, and in by the perviously suggested manner. But in anyway, I would suggest that another person remain in the center of the cockpit to protect the boarding person from rolling into the cockpit floor, or even worse, into the combanionway and down into the the cabin, in an uncontrolled manner.........been there done that.....I don't recommend that.....its hurts like hell ! And lastly, I'm not sure I would use a bosin seat either......Too uncontrolled. And also, unless your boat is a larger model (30' +) you might find your standing rig coming down on top of everything. Hope this helps to all concerned. Bob Burns Louisville, Ohio
Bosun
When I mentioned the bosun's chair I was specifically thinking about a rather low para with a lot of upper body strength. Certainly not a good idea to lift someone that can't support themselves in the seat.
When I mentioned the bosun's chair I was specifically thinking about a rather low para with a lot of upper body strength. Certainly not a good idea to lift someone that can't support themselves in the seat.
Jim, I think rascal has some good stuff .
My wife and I do the annual GO-SAIL in our area. It is an event that people pay $10 a head to sail for anywhere from 1/2 to 1 hour. The proceeds go to our local Community Care Connection. The money goes to local charity. Mostly disabled. So, every year we face the disabled and getting them aboard. I have to say that we laugh, joke, love, and manhandle them aboard. All they really care about is the Sail that they are going on. Most disabled people know they are not graceful. Most of them know that it is out of the ordinary that someone would take them out sailing. They just want to do it. The more you let them do, the more they love it. By the way, they don't always do it right. But that is fun too. Most of the time we get them to sit on the gunwale and carefully swivel them from facing the dock to facing the cockpit. Then try to make thier plunk into the cockpit as easy a possible. Jim, IF they want to sail, you ain't going to scare them! On the GO-SAIL events, we take disabled and able people. We scare the able people but the disable love the thrill! Jim, deal with the person you are bringing aboard, not your anticipation about the the person. These people have great character! I am always amazed how much fun sailing with the disabled is! Enjoy, r.w.landau
My wife and I do the annual GO-SAIL in our area. It is an event that people pay $10 a head to sail for anywhere from 1/2 to 1 hour. The proceeds go to our local Community Care Connection. The money goes to local charity. Mostly disabled. So, every year we face the disabled and getting them aboard. I have to say that we laugh, joke, love, and manhandle them aboard. All they really care about is the Sail that they are going on. Most disabled people know they are not graceful. Most of them know that it is out of the ordinary that someone would take them out sailing. They just want to do it. The more you let them do, the more they love it. By the way, they don't always do it right. But that is fun too. Most of the time we get them to sit on the gunwale and carefully swivel them from facing the dock to facing the cockpit. Then try to make thier plunk into the cockpit as easy a possible. Jim, IF they want to sail, you ain't going to scare them! On the GO-SAIL events, we take disabled and able people. We scare the able people but the disable love the thrill! Jim, deal with the person you are bringing aboard, not your anticipation about the the person. These people have great character! I am always amazed how much fun sailing with the disabled is! Enjoy, r.w.landau
P.S. Using A Bosun's Seat......
Hey John......not being critical of your idea of using a bosun's seat to help a disabled person aboard. But I also fly and we have a topic in aviation called "weight & balance" that is very important. I've learned from this from that ....... the further outward you go, with the weight the more pressure ..... so the bosun's seat would be pretty stable as long as your lifting close to the mast, but the further outward you would go, like back to the cockpit area, the more you would be pulling the mast off to the rear of the side. And as I mention originally, for bigger boats it might be safe but smaller boats ....... it might be a hazard. And secondly, as with what Mr. Landau spoke of: most disabled person knows their ABILITIES as well as their disablilties ......... they will know their personal limits ! And Yes ....... Arrg !!! We are a gutsy lot ! Smooth Sailing on Warm Breezes to All !!!
Hey John......not being critical of your idea of using a bosun's seat to help a disabled person aboard. But I also fly and we have a topic in aviation called "weight & balance" that is very important. I've learned from this from that ....... the further outward you go, with the weight the more pressure ..... so the bosun's seat would be pretty stable as long as your lifting close to the mast, but the further outward you would go, like back to the cockpit area, the more you would be pulling the mast off to the rear of the side. And as I mention originally, for bigger boats it might be safe but smaller boats ....... it might be a hazard. And secondly, as with what Mr. Landau spoke of: most disabled person knows their ABILITIES as well as their disablilties ......... they will know their personal limits ! And Yes ....... Arrg !!! We are a gutsy lot ! Smooth Sailing on Warm Breezes to All !!!
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