Corpusfishing.com

jhardy1974 · Horse Mullet Joined: 27 Mar 2011 Posts: 103

Hey guys, the family and I are heading down this next week/weekend and was wanting to get some recommendations on guides or offshore boats that could fairly easily get a wheelchair on the boat plus two other people.
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Drake · Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 9:54 am Post subject: Wheelchair

Can the person in the chair transfer to another "chair or bench" with a transfer board? Is it a power chair, lightweight sport type chair or a standard chair? How heavy is the person and he chair? Then once you get it on board how do you plan on securing the chair? Unless it locks, or you figure out a way to lock it, it will roll.

jhardy1974 · Horse Mullet Joined: 27 Mar 2011 Posts: 103

I'm the one in the chair

I'm pretty heavy and would be sticky to the wheelchair. It is a light weight sports chair that locks pretty good.

The biggest problem with the big party boats is the little doors are all to skinny and even if I can get on the boats, the waves are even to much for the brakes.

I was hoping to find someone who had a fairly open deck bay boat or such that could launch from packery since it is pretty nice for wheelchairs or over at Port-A, but not sure if there are any wheelchair docks over there.

Plus we will be renting a condo with a private dock in the canals at the 361 intersection.
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Drake · Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 2:21 pm Post subject: Wheelchair

I am in a chair too so i know the challenges. I am lucky as I can grab something and stand. A chair on a boat is going to be a challenge. To your point the brakes don't work on wet wheels. My boat came with rails in all the right places so i don't move far from where i drive to where i set to fish. That may be the reason i am not very good at either. If you are staying in a condo with a dock have them pick you up there. UL M is hot right now.

Call Capt Mike Singleterry explain what the situation is. You can reach him at 361-949-9455. Even if you don't catch fish (you will) you will learn a lot about the Laguna. If he can't do it he will know who can. But I strongly recommend figuring out a way to transfer to the boat and then a seat. Everything that could happen with you in a chair in a moving boat isn't good.

Good luck brother. I wish more folks in our situation would get out there. It can be done you just have to think it through.

deputydawg · Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 5:33 pm Post subject:

Wish I could take you or send you in the right direction but I have no help to offer! I can wish you good luck on your trip!!

jhardy1974 · Horse Mullet Joined: 27 Mar 2011 Posts: 103

Thanks everyone

This is why I would love working with a group or boat company to create a shallow water pontoon style boat.

I have a fresh water pontoon that works greats, flat deck, lock downs, etc.

But for saltwater, it would need to be built with fiberglass and have the engine set up like a shallow water does.

The number of people with limitations that would use a service like this that visit Corpus could be huge.
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ceejkay · Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2013 12:51 pm Post subject:

hell a scooter style boat might work. you could have a custom boat chair made that slides around the deck in track. man you got the gears turning in my head.. unfortunately im not in a position to build boats.
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If I spent half as long fishing , as I do reading this bloody forum , I'd be twice the fisherman I am.

jhardy1974 · Horse Mullet Joined: 27 Mar 2011 Posts: 103

The first thing that really came to mind as a prototype was a deck made from composite decking, two kayaks as pontoons, and a trolling motor
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Drake · Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2013 3:20 pm Post subject: Boats

A Majak, Gulfcoast, Marshell or Shallow Sport would work perfectly. You can build the lockdowns into the deck easy. They make stainless low profile buckles. The boat needs low gunnels (sp?) and wide open deck. If you went to the guys at Majak and explained to them what your doing bet you anything they could build it. And it probably wouldnt add a ton of $$ to the price as they are not going to install helm seating.

The challenge is getting from the dock into the boat in the chair. For that your going to need a swing lift or a aluminim ramp you could leave at the dock.