Design help, please--kayak alternative?

[Kermit]

A year or so back I built--okay, assembled-- a Pygmy Coho for a friend who had had it in the box for 3-4 years, and wanted it before she couldn't get into it anymore. She is a friend and former collegue who has a degenerative bone disease whose name I can't recall, remember, pronounce.

She has this summer to paddle, and then she's likely to be in a wheelchair sometime before next summer. I'm looking for a design I can build for her. Something electric, I think, and light. Pretty much looking for the kayak experience without the cockpit access issues and with no need to paddle. A solo boat would be best, I think. Needs to ride on a small trailer, as her husband has some physical limitations--as do we all when age starts getting the better of us. She's about a mile from a good boat launch with a decent float. I'm thinking of something she can use while her hubby still has to paddle his boat.

Thanks for any help.

[mike hanyi]

http://www.clcboats.com/boats/wherry.php

nice simple hull shape, put an electric minnkota on it with a nice tiller arrangement for forward sitting

[JimD]

Check out Glen-L's PowerYak. Might be just about perfect:

http://www.boatdesigns.com/products.asp?dept=484

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

A year or so back I built--okay, assembled-- a Pygmy Coho for a friend who had had it in the box for 3-4 years, and wanted it before she couldn't get into it anymore. She is a friend and former collegue who has a degenerative bone disease whose name I can't recall, remember, pronounce.

She has this summer to paddle, and then she's likely to be in a wheelchair sometime before next summer. I'm looking for a design I can build for her. Something electric, I think, and light. Pretty much looking for the kayak experience without the cockpit access issues and with no need to paddle. A solo boat would be best, I think. Needs to ride on a small trailer, as her husband has some physical limitations--as do we all when age starts getting the better of us. She's about a mile from a good boat launch with a decent float. I'm thinking of something she can use while her hubby still has to paddle his boat.

Thanks for any help.

Scary - really scary.

A swift first reading might have you thinking of a beamy kayak and a minn-kota.
Can she clear a weed-fouled prop?
What happens if she can't? -
Is she at peace with the answer to those questions?
What might a court say?

This is a boat, on water, there are life-or-death questions.

[skuthorp]

Year or two back there was a member built a pedal sculler to power a kayak I think. Long flexible blade waving back and forth. Can anyone remember that, should'nt be too hard to power and not be so succeptible to weed fouling.

[Graham Knight]

What about one of those propulsion systems that Hobie make, can't think of the name but it's like two fins that stick out under the boat, and when you pedal they "flap" from side to side propelling the boat forward. I saw them fitted to a few canoe/kayak type boats at a show the other week, they seem to work well and Hobie claim they don't foul.
Ah just remembered it's called a Mirage Drive http://www.hobiecat.com/kayaking/miragedrive.html I don't know how easy it would be to motorize, maybe not too difficult?

[Hwyl]

Year or two back there was a member built a pedal sculler to power a kayak I think. Long flexible blade waving back and forth. Can anyone remember that, should'nt be too hard to power and not be so succeptible to weed fouling.


It was Steven Bauer or at least he built one.

Just did a search on the BBC, I knew I'd seen something, not quite what you're looking for but something to think about.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/north_west/3738451.stm


http://www.wheelyboats.org/

[Hwyl]

Edit function seems to be screwed.

The other was a standard Mk II for Corbet Lough, Co Down, but with built-in batteries and charger to power an 82lb thrust electric outboard. Undoubtedly more of these special models will be built to suit the circumstances of the venues and users.

[Tom Robb]

There you go, an LCWC - landing craft wheelchair.

[Thorne]

Sounds like something much more like a small electric launch is in order -- both for safety and functionality. If she has physical issues, a narrow tender craft sure seems like a poor choice!

Some online resources for electric power -
http://www.mindspring.com/~jimkerr1/sebtech.htm
http://www.solarnavigator.net/electric_boats.htm

"Amp-eater" launch plans - http://www.boatdesigns.com/products.asp?dept=470

You can either build to plan, or consider converting an old daysailer -- I've seen photos of some 14-16' plywood centerboard sailboats converted into little launches, don't know how they work but looked nice. Just remove the centerboard case, drop in some bench seats and floatation, possibly some raised coamings, set up steering, add power and off you go.

Most ply sailboats in that size range are pretty stable -- I could stand on the tiny sidedecks of my Blue Jay -- and yet can be powered with either a small outboard or electric motor. And they can be launched and handled easily also.

[Kermit]

I'd forgotten Ampeater. I showed it to them, and they're thinking on it. Part of what appeals to her about it is being able to go out with her grandson--what could be better?

Thanks to all.