making boat handicap accessible

[kerk fisher]

My wife and I have been sailing for over 25 years in Canada's North Channel and in the last couple of years my wife has been developing difficulty walking up and down stairs and ladders. It's also difficult supporting herself with arms/hands-- a little is possible, but not preferable.  Any thoughts in making companionway stairs and swim ladder easier to negotiate.  We have an open transom. We want to sail til the end of our days!  Thanks, Kerk

[Noah]

Tough problem. Perhaps consider some sort of custom built (stainless tubing?) handrails mounted to the bulkhead on either side of the companioway ladder?

[Stu Jackson]

i struggled with this when I broke my leg skiing in 2009.  I learned that our Mark I boat is actually etremely well suited for handipaped access once on board.

However, Mark II boats have a bunch of different things missing that Mark I boats DO have.

The handhold on the sliding hatch does not exist on Mark II boats.  I find that between that handhold and the two on the sides going down below, I was just fine with limited mobility and leg strength.

The Mark I boats have a handhold above the galley sink along the centerline of the boat, and another one just forward of the mast.  IIRC, Mark II boats do not.  On my boat I can go from the cockpit to the V berth literally without my feet hitting the sole, which I've actually done when heeled beating upwind in heavy conditions:  hatch and companionway handholds down the stairs, galley sink handhold, turnbuckle on keel stepped mast, forward handhold and V berth.  Monkey-time sometimes.

I suggest, if you can,that you  find a Mark I boat and see the differences and see what you can work up for your boat.

Good luck, I know, physical limitations can be quite challenging.  Once I figured how to get on the boat from the dock with crutches, I was just fine.

[KWKloeber]

custom built (stainless tubing?) handrails mounted to the bulkhead on either side of the companioway ladder?

I added grab rails to the companionway of a J/120 last year.  I considered having some made ($$$$) or using bathroom grab rails (diameter was too large for he limited mounting space both sides of the opening.)

I found stainless grab rails on ebay that were in various lengths, types of mounting plates, etc. 
Worked out very well for the limited-mobility owner.



Other vendors had different styles.

kk

[Steve_in_lex]

Just a thought... Some years ago my wife was wheelchair-bound for some time, and the rehab facility connected us with some carpenter-types who specialized in making the house handicap accessible.  They knew just what was needed and had the equipment to do it in just a few hours.  Might be worth checking out.

[Jim Hardesty]

You've probably already thought this. If you back into a slip it may be easier to board from the aft on a MKll.
Hope you find what you and your wife need to keep sailing.
Jim