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Coulam 16 Wheelyboat
- RCD category C waters
- 3 people max
- 4.9m long
- 1.8m wide
The Trust and J M Coulam Boatbuilders have designed and developed the Coulam 16 Wheelyboat, a brand new and purpose-built wheelchair accessible fishing boat. It has been developed from the successful Coulam 15 Wheelyboat model launched in 2006 which is specifically aimed at disabled anglers fishing large rivers, like the Tweed.
The Coulam 16 Wheelyboat has been designed primarily for big stillwater fisheries but will also be suitable for large rivers where engine power is the norm. It is based on Jim Coulam's standard 16' reservoir fishing boat and is considerably larger than the ‘15’, easily accommodating two wheelchair users and a companion/boatman. The wide open deck is accessible throughout and disabled anglers can helm the boat if they wish.
Like the Coulam 15 Wheelyboat, boarding is via a ramp from bank or pontoon onto a hydraulic platform that lowers the angler to deck level. Removable handrails around the platform help keep the angler secure while boarding or disembarking, a procedure which requires the assistance of just one able-bodied helper. The boat's 6' beam provides a very safe and stable platform but wheelchair strapping points are provided for rougher conditions.
This brand new model, which received its public debut at the London Boat Show in January 2008, is expected to prove extremely popular with disabled anglers and fishery managers alike. It has a huge advantage over standard Wheelyboats in that it looks and performs like all the other boats in the fishery's fleet. Standard Wheelyboats differ in size and shape to the rest of the fleet; their design has always been a compromise between performance and accessibility, with accessibility taking precedence. As a consequence, disabled anglers can feel conspicuous and at a disadvantage when using them.
The Coulam 16 Wheelyboat retains 100% of the performance of a purpose-built angling boat. So, not only does the Coulam 16 Wheelyboat fit in perfectly with the fishery's other boats, it can be used by anyone, disabled or not, thus appealing to fisheries as a genuinely dual-purpose craft.
The first production model has been launched on Rutland Water – for more details click here.
If you have any questions or would like any further information please do not hesitate to contact us.