Suggestions to help an aging fishing partner

[cef1965]

My father-in-law is 72 and not in the best of health, but loves to fish from the boat. His spine is such that Emory, Hughston Clinic, nor UAB will touch as the chance of paralysis is greater than 50% if corrected. He also has pretty severe osteoarthritis in his knees. The struggle for him is getting in and out of the boat, as he needs something solid to hold on to. Once in the boat, he needs something solid to hold onto moving from the passenger seat to the elevated back seat. Boat is a Sabre FTD.Does anyone have any suggestions that may help him get in/out of the boat along with something that could be held onto inside the boat for moving back and forth from the passenger seat to the elevated back seat?Thanks

[oldtimer57]

I have used a folding walker in a similar circumstance a few years ago to help someone with the same problem in the boat. Gives him a hand-rail to hold on to (you can set it on the floor, or even on the back deck.) And it is light and folds up to get out of the way. Wont fit in any storage box, but someone might make something that will. Depending on how bad his condition is, perhaps a cane with a broader base will work also, and that would fit in one of the rod lockers to get it out of the way.Also worked for me to help someone get into the boat. Just tie it to the dock snugly and try to time the boarding to where there are no big waves coming in.2008 Pantera Classic2014 Mercury Pro XS 200

[JSLAW]

Bring the boat to a metal fab shop, have them make a metal grabrail that fits in the midship seat post. Run the rail up from the midship seat post receptacle back horizontally to the actual vertical seat post under the seat, they can weld a bracket onto the seat pole that attaches the grab rail, but also makes it removable. Basicallt just think of a grab rail that runs from midships to the rear seat that would be about waist high. A couple years ago legend made a boat for wounded warrior vet that had something similar. You wanna do the same thing except to the rear of the boat, but you want it to be removable: http://www.bassmaster.com/slideshow/larrys-legendLast edited by JSLAW on January 19th, 2017, 4:10 am, edited 1 time in total.

[cef1965]

Great suggestion JSLaw.

[mike dominick]

Dee Thomas in Ca. also ran a handrail deal in his boat, you might ask over on Western Bass, someone should have a picture of his setup.

[Cajunhunter67]

Great suggestions! Also if possible, getting the nose on a bank where the front deck is same height. I do this for my mom. I put a small stool on the ground. I get in the boat. she holds on to me and steps on the front deck. With the bow on the bank, the nose doesnt dip either. Than I move the stool to the back and help her to the rear seat.

[Jeff Antenucci]

mike dominick wrote:Dee Thomas in Ca. also ran a handrail deal in his boat, you might ask over on Western Bass, someone should have a picture of his setup.And he still does. If I can get out to see him before I head back to school I may be able to grab you a picture, but it is virtually the same set up as in the link JSLAW provided. When he fishes from the front end, he always uses it. But fishing from the back, which he does most of the time Im with him, he uses the chair itself as his base and sort of crawls his way back there leaning heavily on the chair.As far as getting in the boat, he uses the trailer as a step to climb over the passenger side (single console), and repeats the process getting out of the boat as well.For both processes, slow is key as is always having something to hold on to.

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