Ergonomics - Stairs on Boats

Yes, it is. But it is so specific that I believe it has to be done by a specialist on that kind of ergonomics (I mean your specific disability), working with a boat designer with a help of a sailor with a lot of experience with “handicapped” sailors. (Sorry for the choice of words, English is not my first language). Probably it is already done, I mean a boat adapted to your kind of needs, you have just to look at the right places.

Try in these sites, I am sure they will be glad to help you.

http://www.rya.org.uk/AboutRYA/RYASailability/
http://www.sailability.org/
http://www.sailability.org/us/florida/

 

There's an interesting thread at these forums, about ideas for boats for disabled people:
http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/showthread.php?t=176
(Unluckily some of the links there are old and no longer working)

Also interesting:
http://www.harryproa.com/
http://www.globalinventure.com/

 

Nice boat, but I'm wondering what happens when you have to access the engine to work on it when in an emergency at sea. As you've been there, Is it easy to access?
I find many of actual sailing boats are conceived with no-mechanically oriented customers in mind, so leaving engine issues to the engineers when at the marina. Many engines are located in awkward places, being even difficult to substitute a simple belt.
That's ergonomics, too....

 

Yacht Designing and Planning by Howard Chapelle, Chapter 2 has some information on this subject that maybe heplful to you.

 

Thanks, I'll be checking out what they have at Border's Books which is a half block from my office later on today.

 

How wide and tall do you think this door is?

No fatties allowed.

http://www.boatdesign.net/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=365

 

Cougar:
VT Halmatic and Vosper Thornycroft have merged into VT Group.
Old Design:


Newer stuff:
http://www.vtplc.com/halmatic/product.asp?itemID=414&catid=92



Future stuff:
http://www.vtplc.com/halmatic/product.asp?itemID=415&catid=92

 

http://www.cdboats.com/examples/carver30/c30.htm

CD for sale:
http://www.cdboats.com/boats.html

 

Searay 44 foot, could not find a Navy/Coast Guard/Patrol/Military version.

http://www.boatsdetails.info/2006_Sea_Ray_44_Sedan_Bridge.html

 

I might be straying from my own topic, but you have to see these videos. What up with the hinged bow? Is that for airlift dimensions?

http://www.usmi.com/united_states_marine_inc.htm

Click on the first and second to last images at top to view the videos. It's the second to last one which is "hinged".

 

see http://www.specialoperations.com/Navy/VSV/default.html
and http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/vsv.htm
This is something now called a VSV or Very Slender Vessel. It is adapted from the Sea Knife back in the 80's and 90's and the idea has been around a long time and is also called a wave piercing vessel. The whole idea is that the bow, instead of lifting to oncoming sea, goes through the wave, producing a softer ride, and because of it's slender form it requires less power to move it. I don't know. The jury is still out on these.

What's with the hinged bow? I don't know. Maybe they run this thing up on the beach and off load special forces or seals or what ever. These are being considered by the Marine Corps and Navy for rapid insertion type warfare, where that's what they do; insert a team onto the beach, then back off until the job is done, and then pick them up. DARPA is doing research on them right now. DARPA for those who don't know is the USA's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. They are the ones who funded the development of the internet back in the 70's that makes this forum possible.

 

Back on "ERGONOMICS":

If I remember well the sides of that "box" can also be opened (see picture).

That boat is a Nordship 43 and Lars Buschwald, the builder is also the designer and a good sailor. He has been perfecting his boats for 25 years now and he is a perfectionist and a very enjoyable man to talk to.
His boats are strong and seaworthy.

The 35 ft has recently been tested by an Australian boat magazine (Cruising Helmsman) and they have said about it:"This is a well-built boat that will suit a couple who want an escape machine that will look after them if caught out offshore in a blow….The angle of vanishing stability alone should rank it near the top of your list if looking for a deck saloon in this price range for bluewater sailing.",,

The new 40ft (I have seen it at Düsseldorf) is even better, regarding ergonomics and the use of interior space. A remarkable piece of interior design, not to mention the rest (it’s also a reasonably fast boat, for a cruiser).

 

Image on trailer (folded bow/nose - large):
http://www.specialoperations.com/Navy/VSV/vsv2.jpg

In the link Ike gave, I now recognize this ship, only saw it from that rear angle once - about nine months ago. My hybrid hovercraft is very similar in shape (and mission) including the low stealth profile. Maybe now you can understand why I said you will step down into the control cabin.

How do I get a hold of some of this DARPA money?

 

Hinged bow is probably so that it can fit on the trailer or in a plane better.

 

Exactly what I said earlier and why I linked to the trailer image. However going one step further, think about why in that video they show it able to do this bow trick while in the water. It could only mean that if delivered out of the tail of a low flying cargo plane the nose can be unfolded in the water. Perhaps even picked up the same way.