Manufacturer Removes Boating Barriers

Joe Whaley was a commercial crab fisherman before he lost his sea legs.

He had a master’s license to pilot 500-ton ships. Fish, boats and water were his life through his 20s.

Now, at the age of 31, they’re his dreams.

Two years ago, Whaley was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy after numbness in his legs gradually made his work impossible.

“I can shinny around and use forearm crutches, but it’s pretty difficult for me to get around in a traditional boat,” he said.

Cheney Weeder Manufacturing of Spokane is trying to make the dream come true for Whaley and other disabled boaters.

During the summer, Cheney Weeder finished a prototype pontoon boat designed to accommodate disabled anglers. To accommodate wheelchairs, the gates are wider, pedestal seats can be removed, drop-down ramps were built into the railings to allow access from docks.

Jerry Paulus of Cheney Weeder tapped Whaley not only for his expertise not only as a boat captain but also for his experience with disability.

After a weekend test drive, Whaley beamed at the catch of walleyes, kokanee and smallmouth bass his family had brought home.

“A boat like this is the difference between going and not going,” he said.

Whaley offered suggestions, such as moving the live well to the back of the boat for easier access and raising the console so the arms of a wheelchair would fit under it.

But overall, the boat was a hit.

“I had my wife, two kids and a friend and we just put out air mattresses and slept on the floor,” Whaley said.

“We could troll six lines, and we never tangled. When the kids got restless, they could find plenty of room in the corner to color.”

“We stayed right on the boat. I could move around on the boat in the wheelchair and fish with no problem.”

After Whaley’s suggestions were logged, Paulus donated the pontoon boat to Fishing Has No Boundaries Inc., founded to promote fishing access for disabled people.

Jaycees from Washington to Wisconsin volunteered to shuttle the boat 1,400 miles to the FHNB headquarters in Hayward, Wis. “We had our first fishing event for disabled people in 1988,” said Alan Olsen, executive director. “Next year we’ll have at least 12 events in eight states that should attract about 900 disabled anglers.

“We have special equipment such as electric reels and rod holders, but this is the first time we’ve had a boat specially designed for the people we’re trying to help.”

Last month, Cheney Weeder received a $35,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s small business innovative research program to design, build and test a pontoon boat accessible to disabled persons.

“We’re working the St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute and the Coalition of Responsible Disabled,” Paulus said. “We plan to have the boat ready for the water in a few months.”

Feedback from FHNB is already trickling in, Paulus said.

“The new boat will have 8-inch-high safety rails around the front deck so wheel-chairs can’t roll off and we’ll design side rails for the side ramp to keep wheels from edging off.

“We’re also looking into a lifting device so disabled people can go swimming and still get back into the boat,” Paulus said.

He expects the boat to be finished in time for display at the winter boat shows in Spokane.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo