I hope I am posting in the right Forum, Mods, let me know if I messed up. Even though I am really looking for a boat, I hope to get ideas/opinions from y'all on closing in on my decision.

I am looking for a bass boat that will work for a paraplegic, me. Broken back from motorcycle wreck. I will be using a lift system that will be welded onto the trailer, and a seat attaches to the screw shaft and lifts you up, swing your legs over and lower down to the passenger seat, then slide over to the driver seat, or stay when wife drives. Here is a pic of a guy's setup I went and saw recently. The seat attaches to the hinge pin at the bottom.



Logic says to buy a single console boat, all kinds of open space in front of the seat for me maneuvering around. But, we're getting older, me 54, wife 51, and neither one of us wants to battle the wind on long runs. Hence my dilemma. Plus, since I don't have working lower abs to help hold me up, having a handle in front of me when co-pilotting would be very helpful.

So, I am trying to figure out if a double console can work for me. I can't just go out and try boats out, since I have to have the lift first, chicken and egg thing. A removable console might work, but wife would have to be moving it out of the way and weight could be a problem. Plus, I've been lurking thru all ads here and Craigs and it seems most removables are on pretty late model boats and out of my price range, ~$15K. I am looking for 18+ size as we will have a 3rd friend at times, and he's a big boy.

Here's some questions:
1. What is the typical space between seat edge and closest console edge? (I need to be able to slide my legs thru)
2. Is this space pretty standard across manufacturers?
3. When did various mfr's start removables? (I saw one add for a 2000 Ranger 520 that said it had one)
4. How heavy is a removable, and are they easy to unlatch?
5. Boat edge to foot step.(has to do with how tall a screw shaft I need) I have measured a few and they seem to range from high 20's to low 30'. Does that sound right?

Thanks Folks.

I have a friend with CP. The best setup we�ve found for him is a Lund type fishing boat. Some folks call them Walleye boats. You might look into this.


TFP

Have you thought about a center console with a large cooler seat behind the console? I am a para myself and that is what I use. I pull myself into the boat without a lift, so that might make a difference. If I don't start losing some weight I'm gonna have to look at one of those handy lifts though. LOL

Physicist - I thought about those and looked at their site for awhile. I just kinda got my mind on a bass boat. "where there's a will, there's a way". I hope to figure this out, but thanks.

Cklimpt - (this is the ugliest bowing smilie I've ever seen, I'm used to :notworthy: )
My hat's off to ya, I can't see me pulling up into any boat, 'course I'm old and kinda fat, plus got hurt late in life, only 7yrs in. Plus I suck at transfers.

I think I will be happy in a bass boat setting, just gotta work out the logistics.

To think that I complain about my back hurting after a full day on the water while you are dealing with your issues makes me embarrassed...
Have a friend who lost both legs in Irag as well as partial use of his arms. Like you, he hasn't even considered giving up the sports he loves.(hunting and fishing)
I to the guys who keep going..

I would think the removable console would be a PITA for both of you. It would get in her way if she wishes to fish as well as yours. With $4 per gallon fuel costs looming large, long runs may not be an issue for any of us.

There are several of the PVA anglers that have their own boats. One of the guys I know personally has a center console. You might be able to check out what the anglers are using at the PVA tournament at Ray Hubbard June 10th, 11th and 12th. I am sure those guys have put a lot of thought into what they have and/or what they would like to have.

http://www.pva.org/site/c.ajIRK9NJLcJ2E/b.6305943/k.A52C/PVA_Bass_Tour.htm

You can reach a lot of the local anglers through Turning Point http://www.turningpointnation.org/

Txduckhunter - thanks for the goods thoughts. No embarassment needed, pain is pain, whatever is above our normal level hurts. Unfortunately, my "normal" level has been elevated quite a bit. :|

I'm guessing a console is kinda heavy, as well as unwieldy, so probably won't want to mess with it.

Tommyc - that's a very good idea, thanks for the heads up.

I fished a tournament once with a guy in the same situation. Actually, he drew me to fish in my boat but we decided to take his boat because it worked best for him. Basically, it was a pontoon boat. The way it would work is we parked the boat up against the walk ramp, the rail opened up, and the angler wheeled himself on the front deck with use of a small aluminum ramp. The deck was big enough to allow him to turn around and do what he head to do. Im guessing today, you could mount a powerpole or Talon to help hold on spot. The ride is rather smooth on a Pontoon so not a lot of jarring going on. I can locate the person if you want to talk to him. Just send me a PM.

By the way, he ended up (sorry I cant remember his name). His hands were not able to hold a rod so they had to be strapped to his arms. He caught 3 fish that day and best tournament experience I ever enjoyed!!!

I am a T-12 para and like you only have my top 2 abs. I have a 21 ft. skeeter and fish out of my chair from the back deck. I do not know how easy it is for you to transfer in and out of your chair but here is what I do in tournaments and just casual fishing.
Getting in the boat... I back the boat into the water and then go park while my partner pulls the boat to the dock. I then roll down to the dock and tansfer from my chair to the dock, and then tranfer into the boat. We take the wheels off of my chair and it stacks between the 2 consoles nicely and rides safe. Then, when we get to where we are going to fish, I put my chair together on the back deck and transfer up into it (highly recommend someone holding the chair if the waves/wind is bad ha). Once in my chair I just lock my wheels and start fishing. You do lose some valuable fishing time as it takes several minutes to get set up and transferred in then break it down, but it is what it is. and YES it is alot of work, but what isnt when you roll through life in a chair?! I would rather work harder and fish than let it be easy and stay home.
I would definitely recommend a single console!! You will need the extra room and it is ALOT easier to get to the front deck when you do not have another console in the way. My next boat will be a single.

Feel free to PM me with any questions you may have. Like you, I want to be in a bass boat and am always looking for ways to simplifiy things, but this is the best/easiest I have found for me.

Tyson

USA-1 - I should have mentioned this earlier, one reason for it being a bass boat, my wife would like to learn to handle the boat so that eventually she could be the boater in a couple women's bass clubs she's in.

But thanks, I had thought of a pontoon, entering just like that guy did sure would be simple. BTW, if anybody runs into any quads(broken neck, affects arms and legs) here is a site with some adapted equip.:

www.theksoutdoors.com/The_KS_Outdoors/Fishing_Gear.html

BassBuster45 - thanks for the detailed writeup. I am a T-10, but having kinda short arms and being out of shape, if I wind up on the floor, it's by accident. I have to pile things up to make "steps" to get my butt up nearer chair level to get back in.

I've been thinking about, wondering if a mechanics type creeper on the back deck would work, I could get my butt onto that(with a cushion of course). Wouldn't be able to see much, but could swivel around. Don't think any have brakes though, wahoo..., probably need a backrest of sorts too. Hmmmm...

Yeah, it takes us longer to do things, but hey, we still can. Here is what I have now to get back in the wind on land:

One other thing I forgot to mention. One of the PVA anglers I fish with has a custom pedestal that he uses to mount his chair on the back deck for stability and then he can just spin around.

I saw a boat setup years ago in one of the BASS magazines for a person. I wonder if BASS might have that article in Archives?

A couple of years ago on Falcon we saw Casey Ashley, Kelly Jordan and a couple of other guys that were in wheelchairs at a resturant in town. They were there fishing the week before they fished Amistad. The next day we saw them out on the lake. I just remember the guy in the wheel chair was setting on the deck in his chair while they were running. I don't know what kind of setup they had going or who's boat they were in but it looked like it worked well for them. I just remember thinking he must really be strapped in good to ride on the deck while on pad.

[quote=McDuff]I hope I am posting in the right Forum, Mods, let me know if I messed up. Even though I am really looking for a boat, I hope to get ideas/opinions from y'all on closing in on my decision.

I am looking for a bass boat that will work for a paraplegic, me. Broken back from motorcycle wreck. I will be using a lift system that will be welded onto the trailer, and a seat attaches to the screw shaft and lifts you up, swing your legs over and lower down to the passenger seat, then slide over to the driver seat, or stay when wife drives. Here is a pic of a guy's setup I went and saw recently. The seat attaches to the hinge pin at the bottom.



Logic says to buy a single console boat, all kinds of open space in front of the seat for me maneuvering around. But, we're getting older, me 54, wife 51, and neither one of us wants to battle the wind on long runs. Hence my dilemma. Plus, since I don't have working lower abs to help hold me up, having a handle in front of me when co-pilotting would be very helpful.

So, I am trying to figure out if a double console can work for me. I can't just go out and try boats out, since I have to have the lift first, chicken and egg thing. A removable console might work, but wife would have to be moving it out of the way and weight could be a problem. Plus, I've been lurking thru all ads here and Craigs and it seems most removables are on pretty late model boats and out of my price range, ~$15K. I am looking for 18+ size as we will have a 3rd friend at times, and he's a big boy.

Here's some questions:
1. What is the typical space between seat edge and closest console edge? (I need to be able to slide my legs thru)
2. Is this space pretty standard across manufacturers?
3. When did various mfr's start removables? (I saw one add for a 2000 Ranger 520 that said it had one)
4. How heavy is a removable, and are they easy to unlatch?
5. Boat edge to foot step.(has to do with how tall a screw shaft I need) I have measured a few and they seem to range from high 20's to low 30'. Does that sound right?

Thanks Folks.
[/quotewell did that answer your questions?

As was mentioned already, if you have the dates open, come on down to the PVA Ray Hubbard Tournamwnt in June...There will be at least 10-12 paras or disabled anglers with boats and you can look at them and ask questions. We'll have plenty of volunteers around if you want to get (put) in one of them and check it out from the wheel to front and back.
I have a ProCraft and the back side sits much lower than most other bass boats which allows me to at least get my hind end on the back deck and then I just squirm and scoot to the seats. I am getting ready to have some "grab/assist bars" installed on the double console to help in pulling to get to the front deck - don't want to bust up my windshields. I also have a power pole so if I have to get on the deck to land a fish, I put it down to keep the wind from blowing me into the bank, if I am close. The Walleye boats are a great choice too - since they have plenty of room inside and better seats that are alot like chairs. Plus more areas to hang onto when needed. I am looking at several now for when I am ready to change out to another boat. But, stop out either Saturday or Sunday after the guys come in, you can see some of the modifications during weigh-in and even afterwards and check the boats or modified fishing platforms out.