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Wheelchair Accessible Drift Boat

Stephen Smith is organizing this fundraiser.
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A friend I had guided fishing trips with ended up in a wheelchair. We still wanted to fish together so we adapted his drift boat with a specialized seat up front. Loading him into the boat at the ramp was a process. A boom and winch mounted on the tongue of the boat trailer let us  lift him out of the chair and then swung into the boat then the boat launched. The process was repeated at the end of the trip. Aside from just anchoring the boat near the shore there was no way to stop and spend time on the shore.  I thought there must be a more elegant way of loading people in wheelchairs into a boat. I remembered my WW II history and the landing craft used to put troops on the beach head and figured that design would fill the need. Working with Koffler Boats in Eugene , Oregon this design has been accomplished.  The first boat was delivered to a Wounded Warrior Project in Washington State. My goal is to build another boat with some modifications and use it to provide river access to people in wheelchairs and their families at no cost. Our veterans of course come immediately to mind and the boat and oarsman would always be available to them. I don't however believe in bracketing who I want to help so this project would serve any disabled person who wanted to enjoy a day (or two?) on the river.
I have been rowing boats for 36 years and guiding somewhere between Alaska and Chile for 28 years. I am also interested in developing adaptive fishing and camping equipment.
Please help.
The amount I am asking for also covers a trailer, maintaining a shuttle vehicle, safety equipment, oars and operating costs to cover the expense of the trips.
You can also visit HydroLogistics Montana on facebook for more pictures and a description of the boat and my personal facebook page; Stephen Smith, its the one with the boat buried in a wave for the profile picture.
THANK YOU!

Donations 

  • Peggy Dees
    • $50 
    • 9 yrs

Organizer

Stephen Smith
Organizer
Saint Ignatius, MT
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