Special Needs Pontoon.

I am looking for information on how best to augment a pontoon for wheelchair access.
A friend of mine lives on a lake and has recently been placed in a wheelchair for the foreseeable future. His wife wants to buy him a pontoon and build an opening for a 32″ wide wheelchair and some kind of ramp or gang plank for it.

Has anyone done this before? What pontoons work best? Any other harness information to consider?

This is going to be used about 6 times a year and the top speed is not important as long as it does at least 10 mph.

Thanks in advance for your consideration.

Dog.

We used to keep our boat in a slip next to a couple that the husband was in a wheelchair. They had a pontoon and she would wheel him on and off everyday. Every dock height is going to be a little different so I would recommend a flip ramp secured to the deck of the pontoon with some hinges that would span onto the dock.

Not sure what the budget is but I would suggest looking into SeaLegs to secure the pontoon while getting on and off. Most lifts would be nearly impossible to get off after it is raised, especially if it has a cover.

If you can’t find one already equipped, consider going to one of the custom pontoon makers. TMC and Grand Island are two that come to mind. They can make just about anything. Also, some of the larger pontoon makers are also flexible and willing to modify their base models per-order. I’m sure all of them have been approached by people wanting wider doors before.

Besides the door, also consider the layout. With a chair you probably don’t want a lot of couches in the way. I’d look instead for a pontoon either the front of the back an open deck with the pedestal fishing chairs. Take those pedestals out and you have a wide floor to move around in a chair on.

Tritoon and loading from the front works best. I have a buddy that is in a chair and uses a pontoon. He is able to fit through the factory doors.

Also if it is not one that will be trailered around going wider is another option to be able to still have all your normal couches and seating.

I would second tmc, seems they would be able to build to spec

Tramm Welding south of Isle would do a custom, I would think.