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We meant to tell you about…
…this awesome project that Tracy Allen and Adipose Boatworks put together for us last summer. Each summer, the Headhunters guide staff takes a group of veterans and active duty military personnel fly fishing on the Missouri River. Project Healing Waters and the Pat Barnes (Helena) Chapter of TU facilitate the trip. Last summer we had our first wheelchair angler and needed to get a boat rigged up for him.
Tracy Allen's "lazy susan" wheelchair design.
Scumliner and Tracy had several brainstorming sessions, having both guided wheelchair bound anglers in the past. It’s relatively easy to rip a seat out of a drift boat and put a chair in it. Making sure the chair is level is also important. The biggest trick when you’re on the water is turning the angler right or left so he can get a clear shot without contorting his upper body. Spinning the angler while fighting fish is another concern, especially on a river like the Missouri where fish often make long upstream runs. Try fighting a fish thats behind you sometime and you’ll see what I mean! The guide can’t always stand up to unlock the wheels and spin the chair, especially if this needs to happen in a hurry. Our guest, Robbie, had limited use of his arms, and would not be able to hold the rod while spinning the chair himself. This added another element to Tracy’s design.
When Tracy showed up with his design, we were all blown away. A swivel deck was mounted in the front of the Adipose Flow Skiff. Aluminum rails sat just inside the wheels on the deck, allowing the chair to be river strapped securely. We sat Robbie’s chair in the boat the night before, and it fit perfectly. The skiff design (no front knee locks) gave Robbie a clear path to cast and see.
The next morning the group launched at Holter Dam and with the help of guides and members of Task Force Raven, we got Robbie and his chair quickly secured in the boat. After a quick casting lesson, we hit the river.
As the guide, I immediately found the best part of Tracy’s design was that I could spin Robbie easily with my feet while rowing. Even if Robbie just needed a couple of more degrees to the left or right, it just took a gentle nudge from my foot. This was especially important when fighting fish.
Robbie had a great day, including catching 4 nice fish on dries his first day with a fly rod in hand. After the trip he told us how great that system would be in his bass boat back home in South Carolina.
Hats off to Tracy and Mike at Adipose for taking the time to rig one of there own boats for a single day of fishing. He made my day as a guide easy, and made Robbie’s first day on the Missouri a huge success.
Showing the 360 range of the design. Chair not strapped in yet.
Robbie loaded up and strapped down in the Adipose Disabled Flow.
Robbie hooked up, John behind the oars and Ben Hardy and clients rooting him on. Notice how the swivel allows Robbie to face the fish.
FISHING REPORT
Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 5.22.13
Really good fishing these days folks. On any stretch of river you may find Caddis, Yellow Sally's, a few Continue Reading→
NOAA Weather
Great Falls Intl Airport, MT
Last Updated on May 24 2013, 11:53 am MDT
Weather by NOAA
Current Conditions: A Few Clouds and Breezy
Temp: 58°F
Wind: SW at 23mph
Humidity: 41%
Windchill: 54°F
Used Drift Boat For Sale
14 comments on “We meant to tell you about…”
Awesome. Great innovations by the boys at Adipose and props to the fella’s at Headhunters for participating in such a huge way with Adipose in supporting Healing Waters and Task Force Raven!
Out. Billy the Baitfisher
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Highly commendable!
That is awesome, What away to help the Veterans. That is such a inspirational Story, Headhunters and Adipose are truly Warriors in there own right. What a way to get them on the water and let the Healing bring.
I can’t tell you how happy I am to see this innovation. Propr to HH and Adipose. Tracy, you are genius!! Thanks so much for thinking of our WC friends!!!!!
Great idea,
I am a disabled vet also who hates asking for help on the front let alone going alone.
not trying to be negative on the design just saying a idea since i can relate.
could i offer a couple a suggestion for a possible version 2.0 make it a little lower to the deck if you needed to roll onto the deck and then back on to the swivel platform for those able to.
thanks
Can someone provide the plans to make one of these “wheelchair fishing bases”? I would like to make one for a family member and also provide plans to other individuals with a disability.
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GENERALLY, YOU GUYS ARE NUTS MOST OF THE TIME…………WHICH IS WHY WE LIKE YOU BY THE WAY…..BUT THIS STUFF YOU DO IS AWESOME AND HUMBLES ALL OF US. BY THE WAY, TEACHING SOMEONE TO CAST IN THE WIND…..AND THEN WATCHING WHEN THEY SUCCEED….IS PRETTY COOL AS WELL. I WAS TAUGHT BY TOMMY DENT, GARY F. AND LEFTY K. BUT THAT`S A WHOLE DIFF. STORY!
JC
The chair itself rocks. Check out those “Super Swamper” tires.
Brian, very cool. We love to hear of improvements that can be made. Best to contact Tracey @ Adipose Boatworks. He was the nuts and bolts designer and I’m sure would love to hear from you!
Yes Mark, get in touch with the minds at Adipose Boatworks, primarily Tracey for more information. http://www.adiposeboatworks.com/
Thanks John, appreciate the comment. Mark & John
Hey guys, thanks for all of the positive and constructive criticism, much appreciated! We are dedicated to helping out those who have fought for our freedom! If you want to get in touch with us you can email us @ adiposeboatworks@gmail.com or call our office @ 406.992.1519. We look forward to hearing from you and we’ll do our best to help you out. Thanks
-Mike Ward
Adipose Boatworks