Hello !

[Inquisitive]

I am new here. I have been lurking for about a year. I grew up sailing on the great lakes. My husband is handicapped and I was wondering what kind of boat would be best for him. He has problems walking. I was hoping for something stable that we could cruise on the weekends and holidays with. We live in FL and My mom has a dock near her house in tarpon springs, FL we could use.

All suggestions welcome.

Ericka

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Ericka.

[Inquisitive]

Hello!

[Waterway Guide]

Hi Ericka, and welcome aboard. You may want to consider a catamaran or a heavy keeled mono for its stability especially at a dock, although I'm sure you rig up support where you need it on any sizable boat. Hope you find the perfect boat!

[Mick C]

Originally Posted by Inquisitive

I am new here. I have been lurking for about a year. I grew up sailing on the great lakes. My husband is handicapped and I was wondering what kind of boat would be best for him. He has problems walking. I was hoping for something stable that we could cruise on the weekends and holidays with. We live in FL and My mom has a dock near her house in tarpon springs, FL we could use.

All suggestions welcome.

Ericka

Hi Ericka. My nephew is wheelchair bound and as keen a sailor as me, what we want to do dictates larg3ly what equipment we grab. Acinghegrabs his trimaran because he sailsrings aound usinhis "mean" machine. However when it comes to cruising We will end up on one of the LARGER Yachts and his wheelchair is pined to the rail at whatever station he is assigned. As with most poeple who have handicqps the best thing is to crew a situation in which their particular skills wereneeded and active. SO WITH Gary my nephew he loved either helming,or,shouting trims. Then all the crew did exqctly what,they qsk3d. That made rg crew happy abd the boat happy. So my adviseis,ti get,your,husbqnd,on,to any boat that,he an prqctice the skills he,enjoies.
Hope this,helps
Mick
N

[Inquisitive]

Thanks for the advice Mick. He doesn't know how to sail yet. I think we might go out on a friends boat and try it out. How did you secure his chair?

[Mick C]

Originally Posted by Inquisitive

Thanks for the advice Mick. He doesn't know how to sail yet. I think we might go out on a friends boat and try it out. How did you secure his chair?

For cruising we just strap to rails or lash to something in th ecockpit. Usually you dont really have to worry about tieing it down unless the seas are really bad. We were on an Americas cup yacht in Auckland Harbour and his chair was tied right up on the back of the rail...he had the best seat in the house!!

I tend to go with wht he feels confortable with...not our call really...its his. So see what he wants!

And above all...rule number one...have fun!

[Inquisitive]

Thanks for all your thoughts and comments!

[webejammin]

You might want to plan to go to a big boat show and make appointments with some different types of catamarans with different floorplans. We bought our Gemini 105Mc because of arthertis in my neck and being more stable at anchor is sweet and less painfull. Can he traverse steps ?

[Inquisitive]

Great idea! Thank you! Stairs are more work than they are worth. A few would be ok, a whole set not ok.

[boatman61]

Hi Erika... Welcome to Cf..
Whats been said already.. more or less.
I worked for an RYA school in the UK for a couple of seasons... would have stayed longer but my irreverant personality clashed to much with the prim and proper 'Yachtie' attitude that prevails amongst many who think their special coz they own a boat..
However the school itself was brilliant.. we had quite a few handicapped kids and adult classes come through every year from near total paralysis to blind and metally handicapped... it was beautiful to see them out there... the confidence and joy at finding there was something they could do.. and do well with practice...
That job paid crap money.. but man.. the job satisfaction more than compensated..
So yes... get him out on a boat.. go slowly and let him explore his limits and abilities.. he may just surprise you... and himself further down the line as he finds out how far he can push himself...
Go for it and Enjoy Yourselves....

[Inquisitive]

Have thought about building a boat with my dad down the road to accommodate him more. Dad has built many boats I have not. But I think together we'd be fine.

[Inquisitive]

Boatman - sounds like a very rewarding job that I would enjoy. Thanks for sharing!

Cheers!
ERICKA

[boatman61]

Hey... I was just the Ferryman... it was the young instructors that were doing the good stuff.. but for me it was good..