Building a Boat from a Wheelchair

[Charlie43]

Building a boat from a wheelchair isn't as easy as if one is ambulatory. But it can be done. In fact, I've built three since I broke my back nine years ago and lost the ability to walk or to stand comfortably for sustained periods.

I started the one pictured below two summers ago and then became disgusted with the mess I had made  trying to stain it rather than stick with my tried-and-true method of oiling the interior and varnishing the exterior. I truly hate painting boats, which is what I was now committed to. But I didn't want to do the prep work. So I parked the boat and let the project languish.

However, the boat deserved to be finished. I knew the lines were good, because I had drawn them myself, and the weight was probably under 45 pounds for a boat that's 7'11 x 39". It was built using the Salt Bay method of an external chine with PL Prem and fasteners, around a single, temp mold with frames fitted later. I scuppered the gunnel, of course, and added a mid-plank rubbing strip.

Right now, it's an ugly duckling. But it should clean up nicely, and then I'm on to my next one.