Helping Dad into the boat

[LwnmwnMan2]

I know physics, and moving from a non-fixed object to a fixed object is no easy feat, let alond when you've got diabetes, a bit overweight and 75 years old.

My dad's 75, not real real overweight, but like most of us could stand to lose a few pounds and has diabetes, so he's getting fairly weak and unstable.

My question is, is there anything on the market, short of basically building a set of steps to throw in the back of the pickup so he can walk in and out of the boat on shore, that we can use to help him be able to go fishing.

A couple of years ago I bought a bigger boat since my own family has grown and either he or my wife weren't able to go fishing, which bothered me, fishing is family time.

Now he's going less and less because it's too hard for him to get in and out at the dock.

Any tips from anyone?

[JeffS]

Not sure of any products that are available for your situation. You could always build a set of steps to assist your Dad in getting in and out of the boat.

My suggestion is to buy or rent a pontoon. They are much easier for elderly people to get in and out of because there usually pretty level with the dock.

[BoxMN]

What we did with our Dad was have him sit on the gunwale and then pivot into the boat from the dock. Depends upon your gunwale width, thouhg. It was alot safer than having an older person try to "step" into the boat. Maybe even use a cushion if you can, so it sort of swivels for him. The key thing they need is some arm support, or something to grab onto to help keep them steady while entering. While the pontoon idea is prolly not feasible for $$ reasons, my Dad could enter my pontoon a lot easier than a boat... though my dock is down a hill with a good flight of stairs,,, doooh!!!

good luck Lawnmwrman, find a way to git er done, cause you will miss the times fishing once he is truly no longer able to fish with you.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Someone should invent something. I wonder if some sort of tree stand harness system would help?

[LwnmwnMan2]

I've got a million dollar idea on the product, and I'll give it away.

Box - you're right, I don't want to give up anymore times than I already have.

I work WAY too many hours in the summer, so the times we all get to go are always a joy, even when it's just running down the road to S. Center or Forest Lake.

Last year the 7 year old thought he had a small northern on, until he reeled it into the boat and it was an 8 lb Walleye. I think the smile on my dad's face was bigger than the one on my son's.

Anyways, here's the million dollar idea.

Make some sort of a 4-5' gang plank that has a railing that folds down on one side.

You can use this when you pull up to the dock, having the railing to hold onto, and cover the span from the dock to the boat.

If you wanted to, you could put an extra set or two of tiedowns on the edge of the boat, with some hooks and hook to the underside of the dock with a strap that tightens down.

Make the plank 2-3' wide.

Yes, you'll have to find someplace on the boat when you're out fishing, or else quick run it back to the truck, but at least a person that has a hard time with getting in and out of a place like this will be able to move back and for easier.

It's hard to do the sit thing, that's my dad's biggest problem is getting up after he's sitting down below the 90 degree point at the waist. Even his recliner is higher up so he can get up again. He's lost ALOT of strength in his legs.

I'm not trying to paint my dad as though he's on his death bed, but I also don't want him to just sit at home anymore because he doesn't think he can get out and about.

[Tom7227]

This is a very indirect answer to the issue being discussed, but a thought should be given to trying to may him have a bit more stamina and flexibility. After being down after surgery for about 12 weeks a few years ago I could hardly walk a 1/2 block. Screwed around with various PT providers and finally what worked for me was to get into a PT program that involved the use of a pool that had warm water. To start out with all it was walking back and forth frontways, backwards and then sideways. There was some hopping around and stuff, but the trick was so get the muscles moving without having to push the whole 270 lbs around. It's possible that you would really help your dad if you got him working on this kind of stuff. Unless he's got serious medical problems he could be looking at another 10+ years. Once they lose their mobility things go south pretty fast.

As for the gang plank - you better be more than an arm's length away when you tell him you want him to walk the plank.

Good luck. I wish I had worked harder at getting this done while my dad was alive.

Tom

[windyside]

Getting Grandpa in and out of the boat can be dangerous and sitting in a boat seat can be uncomfortable.

Consider scouting and when you find a hot bite rent a pontoon and bring the whole family along.

[Tom7227]

tell you what, I won the pontoon at the Gov. Fishing opener last year. It's going to be on Bald Eagle in a week or so. Any time you want to bring him and the kid down and have at just let me know. I'm retired and would love to have him come down and show me how it's done. Private e-mail if you're interested Lawnmowman.

[LightningBG]

When we take the big boats out we have steps like this.... Basically the only way to make it up onto the bow that is 6-7ft off the beach. Think this would work? (warning: they can be a little tippy if you dont get the bottom set correctly)

[hoggs222]

What about some sort of smaller collapsible step ladder to use on shore? It would fold up small enough to fit in the truck and wouldn't cost much.

If you did that while the boat is still on the trailer, he could even back the boat off the trailer, if he's comfortable doing that. Or you could pull the boat up to shore, then use the ladder.

[LwnmwnMan2]

The pontoon thing is a no-go.

My dad grew up around the Park Rapids area and knows of all the little out of the way lakes up there, plus we get out to No. Dak. fishing, pretty much too many places where I'm not going to trailer a pontoon to.

Hoggs idea is where I was leaning but if a guy could come up with a plank that had a plank on one end where you could latch it under the rail of your boat, and then latch the other end under the edge of the dock, you'd provide a SOMEWHAT solid plank to get in and out of the boat.

I did a little searching online, and they make planks for getting in and out of yachts, I suppose something like that could be modified.

And yes, he can back the boat in and out as well.

[MarkAlm]

Our dad is 86 years young and has diabetes and the pacemaker for a few years now. I too have wanted to take him out fishing, but he is weak from the lack of muscle use. He cannot step up the steps into my house without help. I thought maybe a step ladder and then swing his legs around to get in the boat but the steps are to far apart. I went over to his place a couple of days before this years opener just as I have for the last, how many? and ask him if he wants to go with on opener,but he knows it is not possible.

I think I will always ask just because it was always a big day in our family.