Pontoon boating has come to symbolize many things for many people, but usually everyone can agree on this: boating means freedom. It allows you to remove yourself from the hassles of everyday life, to become one with your environment, to exist more fully in the present moment.
There’s absolutely no reason that a physical disability or being wheelchair bound should prevent anyone from experiencing that unique sense of freedom – and enjoying the fun, thrills and memories that go along with pontoon boat living.
Those in a wheelchair or a disability can enjoy a pontoon boat just as much as an able-bodied person. In this guide there are some hints and tips to help you get the most from your day’s pontooning, with some advice on any accessories, adjustments or additions you might need to add to your boat.
Pontoon Accessibility for All
Thanks to the same flat deck and open layout that prove to be so user-friendly for children, older family members and pets, pontoon boats are superb platforms for boaters in wheelchairs.
There’s plenty of room to maneuver while on board, and due to the living-room-style seating configurations, you’ll discover that it’s easy to station the chair in spots that maintain the seamless flow of conversation, laughter and activity.
A lot of brands will now design wheelchair accessible pontoon boats, but your boat might need a few items adding to get completely accessible. For example, I know that Bennington Marine offer accessible models with wider entry gates. They advise a prospective owner to visit a Bennington dealer and sketch out what modifications are desired.
The dealer then submits it to the factory and they will try to engineer the request. If the dealer you visit is clueless, contact the factory directly.
Below are some things that you should consider getting installed to your pontoon boat for any passengers in wheelchairs.
Install a Pontoon Boat Wheelchair Ramp
You’ll definitely want to consider adding one key piece of equipment: a pontoon boat wheelchair ramp.
While most manufacturers produce ramps that can be used with most wheelchairs and most types of pontoon boats, you’ll want to make sure you know the size of your pontoon’s boarding gate as well as the size and weight of the wheelchair.
This will let you match the ramp to your boat properly. You’ll also want to ensure that the ramp incorporates non-skid materials.
You can buy pontoon boat wheelchair ramps on Amazon – take a look at that one that I have linked to, but please before purchasing make sure you select one which is the right width.
There’s a brand on Amazon called Extreme Brand who say that their pontoon ramps provide a gentle incline to help those with limited mobility get on board. Go take a look on that previous link.
Fit Handrails & Skid Pads
You also might want to consider a handrail system; a mounting system to secure the ramp to vessel; and skid pads for both ends of the ramp, to protect it in case there’s any ramp movement at the dock.
Buy Wheelchair Tie-Downs for Extra Stability
While pontoon boats do provide a very stable boating platform, you may want additional security beyond the wheelchair’s brakes and wheel locks – particularly if you’re going to be cruising through patches of open water on a breezy day.
Wheelchair tie-downs are available on Amazon. If you decide to purchase tie-downs, talk to your dealer as well as one of the seller’s transportation specialists to learn more about the best system to use on a pontoon boat.
What About Water Sports for Disabled Passengers?
But it’s not all about going along for the ride. Adaptive sports have exploded in recent years, and exciting options abound for outdoor enthusiasts with disabilities.
For example, if you love fishing or are interested in giving it a try, check out Fishing Has No Boundaries. On its website, this national organization has great information about the latest adaptive gear, newsletters, membership details and links to chapters around the country.
And if you figured water sports might not be an option, don’t miss the Adaptive Adventure Sports Coalition and Disabled Sports USA websites.
You’ll quickly realize that not only is fishing a possibility, so are water skiing, kayaking and camping. Freedom is in the air, and the water is calling – get out there!
