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Frequently Asked Questions
- Where can I use Wheelyboats?
- What activities are Wheelyboats used for?
- Does the Trust operate the fleet of Wheelyboats?
- Is a skipper provided by the venue?
- Is it necessary to secure wheelchairs to the deck?
- I am disabled, can I take the Wheelyboat out on my own?
- Are they hired by the hour, day or week?
- How much do they cost to hire?
- There is no Wheelyboat near me, what can I do?
- I run a fishery/boating lake/canal marina and want a Wheelyboat for my disabled visitors. Can you help with the cost and if so how much?
- We are a small charity that wants to provide boat trips for our beneficiaries. Can you help us acquire our own Wheelyboat?
- I want to provide a Wheelyboat for my disabled visitors/anglers – what other factors do I need to consider?
- I am disabled and want to purchase a Wheelyboat for my own use.
- Are they easy to transport?
- How much do Wheelyboats cost?
- Can Wheelyboats be sailed?
- Can Wheelyboats be taken to sea?
- I use a wheelchair and want to start fishing.
- I’d like to volunteer my services
- I am feeling generous, how can I donate?
If your question is has not been answered below please do not hesitate to contact us.
1. Where can I use Wheelyboats?
Wheelyboats are located throughout the UK and Eire. Please see our locations page for a full list.
2. What activities are Wheelyboats used for?
Wheelyboats are used for a variety of activities depending on the venue. Some are fishing only while others are for pleasure boating, nature watching, etc as well. Please refer to the locations list which shows the activities for each boat.
3. Does the Trust operate the fleet of Wheelyboats?
No. Our role is to help venues acquire them for their disabled visitors or groups and organisations acquire them for their own use. The boats supplied are operated by the venues or groups themselves.
4. Is a skipper provided by the venue?
In the main, no. Wheelyboats are self-operated and easy to use. Venues should give novice users a tutorial on how to operate the boat and engine before the boat is taken out. Some fisheries will put a disabled angler who would like a companion in touch with another angler who is happy to offer his services as boat partner.
5. Is it necessary to secure wheelchairs to the deck?
In our experience in normal conditions, no. The deck is non-slip aluminium treadplate and wheelchair brakes are normally sufficient to hold the wheelchair in place. For additional security and comfort the wheelchair can be positioned next to the handrail. For more confident disabled users in rougher conditions, a gunwale pole can be used to provide additional hand holds or a strapping point. Individual boats can be built to meet the particular requirements of the users – for example higher or adjustable handrails can be fitted. If deemed absolutely necessary, restraining rails can be fitted to the deck (as used in minibuses) to lock the wheelchair in place. They are quite difficult to install and where we have done so, they are seldom used.
6. I am disabled, can I take the Wheelyboat out on my own?
This is dependant on the policy of the Wheelyboat venue. However, the Wheelyboat has been designed to accommodate the needs of disabled people and be driven from a wheelchair. The Trust's policy therefore, is that there should be no reason why a disabled person should not take the Wheelyboat out alone as long as all the safety precautions have been met and the Wheelyboat owner or operator is satisfied that the disabled person is competent and confident at the helm.
7. Are they hired by the hour, day or week?
Generally by the day, especially on fisheries. However, where they are available for general boating they are hired by the half-day.
8. How much do they cost to hire?
The Wheelyboat venue determines the price. Some are free (e.g. they come with the cost of the fishing permit) while others make a charge of £20 for half a day. Ideally, the Trust would prefer there to be no charge for the hire of the Wheelyboat. However, it realises that operating a Wheelyboat incurs running costs (e.g. fuel, insurance, maintenance) and therefore does request that the rate of any hire charge is set to cover no more than these costs, particularly where provision of the Wheelyboat generates other revenue such as the sale of fishing permits. It also asks venues to take into account other considerations such as when the Wheelyboat has been subsidised, the lack of alternative access on or around the water for disabled people and the fewer financial resources disabled people generally have at their disposal. Some venues make a donation to the Trust each time their boat is used.
9. There is no Wheelyboat near me, what can I do?
If you know of a potentially suitable venue for a Wheelyboat, contact us with the details and we will do our best to encourage the venue to acquire one. It will be helpful if you approach the venue yourself and broach the subject as they may not be aware of the need and demand for accessible boats on their water.
10. I run a fishery/boating lake/canal marina and would like a Wheelyboat for my disabled visitors. Can you help with the cost and if so how much?
If the Wheelyboat will be made available for the general public to use, we will be able to help with the cost but how much will depend on a number of factors including your own resources. Wheelyboats are not given away and the Trust expects venues to make some financial commitment to the project. You may have your own contacts who could help with funding or you may be able to organise fundraising events. Please contact us for more information.
11. We are a small charity that wants to provide boat trips for our beneficiaries. Can you help us acquire our own Wheelyboat?
Yes we can. We can work together to raise funds to cover the costs.
12. I want to provide a Wheelyboat for my disabled visitors/anglers – what other factors do I need to consider?
Mk I, II and III Wheelyboats are best boarded from a slipway with ideally at least 2' of water at the stern of the boat when the bow is grounded (to save the effort of lifting the outboard). Parking needs to be level and nearby, loos and buildings need to be wheelchair accessible.
13. I am disabled and want to purchase a Wheelyboat for my own use.
We are happy to sell Wheelyboats privately. You would be eligible for VAT relief on the purchase of the boat.
14. Are they easy to transport?
Our demonstrator Mk III Wheelyboat is kept on its own purpose-built trailer. It tows well and is very easy to launch and recover. Mk IIIs can be supplied with their own trailer.
15. How much do Wheelyboats cost?
Prices fluctuate considerably depending on the price of aluminium. Please contact the Trust for the latest price list.
16. Can Wheelyboats be sailed?
No. Wheelyboats are motor boats fitted with petrol or electric outboards. If you are interested in accessible sailing boats, contact RYA Sailability - www.rya.org.uk
17. Can Wheelyboats be taken to sea?
The Mk III Wheelyboat complies with Recreational Craft Directive category C which means it can be used on inshore waters in winds up to force 6 and wave heights up to 2 metres. However, these are pretty nasty conditions and most sensible people will have been heading for shelter long before they reached this extreme. Wheelyboats are safe to use on all inland waters in the UK, harbours and estuaries as long as all the recommended safety procedures are complied with. The Owner's Manual supplied with each Wheelyboat provides comprehensive safety recommendations.
18. I use a wheelchair and would like to try fishing from a boat.
Many of the fisheries with Wheelyboats offer qualified tuition for beginners. Contact your nearest for more information. Most Wheelyboats are at trout fisheries where fly fishing is the principal method. For coarse fishing, visit www.bdaa.co.uk for information on how to start and your nearest accessible venue.
19. I'd like to volunteer my services.
There are vacancies for volunteers to help promote the Wheelyboat and work of the Trust in the regions. Please contact us for more information or to let us know how you may be able to help in other ways.
20. I would like to help the Trust financially. How can I make donation?
Please refer to the Support Us page where there are a number of options for making a financial contribution to the Trust.